Havre notches a state softball win, again

If the Havre High softball team has proven one thing over the years, it’s that it knows how to play exciting games at the Class A state tournament.

And this year, at the 2017 version in Sidney, the story was no different for the Blue Ponies, who saw their first two games go to extra innings. Ultimately, Havre lost the opening game to Columbia Falls 10-9 on a walk-off home run, only to win Friday morning 14-13 thanks to a walk-off bomb of their own, courtesy of Camryn Huston. But in the end, the Ponies run would end after three games, as Polson eliminated HHS Friday afternoon, beating them 13-3.

“I am really proud of these ladies,” McNally said. “They definitely gave it their all and they played some amazing softball. It was a really fun season.”

The Ponies opened the tournament by going down to the wire with Columbia Falls, however, a home run in the bottom of the 8th inning ended the game and gave the Wildcats the win.

Yet Havre was still alive in the double-elimination tournament and would take on Stevensville Friday morning to try and stay alive. With Jaycelyn Hassa on the mound, Havre fell behind 6-1, before scoring 10 runs in the bottom of the third to grab an 11-6 advantage.

But thanks to a pair of runs in the fourth and five more in in the top of the sixth, Stevensville led 13-11 heading into the bottom of the seventh. Facing elimination, the Ponies scored two runs to tie the game, thanks to a clutch, two-out hit from Madison Tommerup.

“That was really a big moment,” McNally said. “Maddy went up there with two outs and the season on the line, and she found a way to come through. So that’s really big. That’s what we have been trying to teach them, so that was great to see her come through there.”

After tying the game and holding Stevensville scoreless in the top of the eight, Huston cranked the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the eighth inning, out of the park, giving Havre the dramatic, come-from-behind victory.

“I was so happy for Camryn,” McNally said. “We have been wanting to see that from her all year, and we just told her to relax and the first pitch she saw, she hit it over the fence. That was a really exciting moment and the look on her face was just awesome to see.”

Huston finished the game with three hits, three RBIs and the game-winning home run. Janae Boles and Jacey McDonald also added three hits in the win, while Hassa was the winner on the mound. Hassa finished the game with three strikeouts.

After knocking off Stevensville to stay alive, the Ponies, who have won a game a state in three of the last four years, ran into Polson Friday afternoon. With Alex Barkus on the mound, Havre fell behind 8-0 after the Pirates scored six in the top of the first and two more in the top of the third.

HHS added two runs in the bottom of the fourth and another in the bottom of the fifth, but by then it was too late and the game was called due to the 10-run rule at 13-3. The Ponies had just four hits in the season finale, with two coming from Tommerup, as well as one each from McDonald and Hassa.

Havre finished the season 10-11-1. The state championship eventually came down to Frenchtown and Belgrade, and the Panthers walked away victorious, capturing their first Class A state softball championship.

“I think that this was a great season for these girls,” McNally said. “They really came together as a team and they gave it everything they had for those two days and as a coach, that’s all you can ask for from them. It was a great season and I am really proud of all of them.”