HHS softball excited for 2018 Havre Invitational

The Havre High softball team is off to one of the best starts in the history of the Blue Pony program and this Saturday, the Ponies will not only honor their senior class, they will also try to complete an undefeated season at home, inside the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.

As hard as it may be to believe, after Saturday's Havre Invitational, which starts at 10 a.m. Havre will take on Conrad in its first game at 10:45 a.m. That will be followed by a contest against Cut Bank at 5:30 p.m.

"They both have been really great leaders for us this year," HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said of his seniors. "I am really happy that Alex is having such a good year. She worked extremely hard in the offseason to get to this point. Camryn is the vocal leader of our team and keeps everyone on their toes. She, too, has put a lot of work in and has earned a shot at playing at Dawson Community College next year. Most importantly, they are great kids and I am glad I got to be part of their senior year."

Barkus has been the ace of the Havre pitching staff this season and she has been the winning pitcher in five of the Ponie's seven wins this season, including all three of their wins in Central A conference play. The senior, who also plays in the outfield when she isn't pitching, will certainly get the ball for one of the two games Saturday, while Lauren Kato, who earned a win and notched four strikeouts against Glasgow Monday, should also get some time on the bump. Another potential pitcher for Havre is sophomore Sam Oliver, who also plays shortstop. She has also been one of Havre's more consistent hitters offensively.

The pitching of Barkus has been a big factor in some of Havre's wins this season, but the Pony offense has also been essential. Janae Boles, Sydney Wilting and Oliver lead things off at the top of the order and soon after, Kinzee Peterson is up and lately, she has been on a tear. In Monday's win over Glasgow, she hit her second home run of the season. Huston is another key figure in the middle of the order.

The production offensively has improved this season, but so has the defense under Vigliotti. With Kato on third, Peyton Brown on second, Oliver at short and Huston on first, in addition to having Peterson behind the plate, HHS has a solid defense. Wilting, Boles, Barkus and Jera Verploegen also pitch in at various positions in the outfield. Other contributors for the Ponies are Kylie Walker, Katelyn Maloughney and Mia Olson.

At this point in the season, Havre has completed conference play and is now just trying to sharpen up for the Central A Divisional which will be played in Havre May 19. That gives them the Havre Invitational this weekend and the Butte Central Invitational next weekend in Butte to fine tune some things for the stretch run of the season.

"We are playing really well at home right now," Vigliotti said. "We are happy with how things are going right, but we want to use these last few games to keep working and keep getting better."

Havre will take on Conrad in the Havre Invitational Saturday at 10:45 a.m. The Ponies will also take on Cut Bank at 5:30 p.m., at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.