Blue Ponies win two at Havre Invite

The Havre High softball team paid tribute to its senior class Saturday at the Havre Invitational and by the time the Blue Ponies had finished their two games at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field, the team had completed a perfect regular season at home.

Havre, which has won nine of its last 10 games, wrapped up a 6-0 regular season at home after posting a 2-0 record in the Havre Invitational. The Ponies won their first game of the day over Conrad 11-2, before getting a walk-off single from Sam Oliver to beat Cut Bank 5-4 in the nightcap on senior night. HHS honored seniors Camryn Huston and Alex Barkus, who earned a complete-game victory for her effort against the Wolves Saturday night on the mound.

"It was a big game for us to win," HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said of the win over Cut Bank. "To win a game like that, that was one that we kind of needed to grind out. Alex didn't maybe pitch her best game. But we got some baserunners at the end and we got it when we needed it. So it was a good win for us."

Early on against Cut Bank, it appeared the Wolves might find a way to ruin senior night. Cut Bank led 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Huston, one of the seniors being honored, hit her first home run the of the season, tying the score at 2-2.

"Camryn has been struggling a little bit at the plate," Vigliotti said. "The last couple of games she has hit the ball hard, so it was good to see her get one down and what a better way than to get one on senior night."

Huston's home run tied the game in the fourth and in the bottom of the fifth, Peyton Brown and Oliver each drove in a run to give the Ponies a 4-2 lead with two innings remaining. Yet, in the top of the sixth, Cut Bank managed three hits and scored two runs to tie the game. And in the top of the seventh, Cut Bank was poised to take the lead, when Oliver threw out the go-ahead runner at home plate. Kinzee Peterson applied the tag and the runner was called out, keeping the score tied at 4-4.

"That's stuff that we work on a lot," Vigliotti said. "Hitting the cut-off man, getting the ball in and Sam made a great throw and it was a great tag by Kinzee. It kept us in the ballgame and gave us a little momentum."

Following the play at the plate, the Ponies went to the seventh inning with a chance to win the game. First, Janae Boles drew a walk and after a hit by Sydney Wilting, Havre had runners on second and third with no outs. That's when Oliver came up to the plate and sent the first pitch the outfield, scoring Boles and clinching the 5-4 win for Havre.

"I was just thinking base hit," Oliver said. "I just wanted to get a run in and even if it was caught, it still would have got the run in. I was excited. I don't think I have ever been that excited."

Oliver was outstanding in the win, notching three hits and driving in two runs. Huston also contributed with the home run, while Brown added a hit and an RBI. Barkus struck out eight batters and earned the decision after holding Cut Bank to four runs in seven innings.

In the first game against Conrad, Oliver got the ball for the Ponies and also went all seven innings, allowing just two runs and striking out. Peterson also knocked out her third home run of the season for the Ponies, who scored seven runs in the bottom of the third inning to blow the game open against Conrad. Peterson's home run came in the fifth inning, when Havre scored three more runs. HHS eventually won by nine.

Peterson had a big day at the plate, getting three hits, including a double and a home run. She also finished with three RBI. Wilting added two hits, as did Oliver, Huston and Barkus.

After dropping its season-opening game against Lewistown on the road, the Ponies have won nine of 11 games. The only losses came on the road, against the defending Class A state champions, Belgrade. Havre will take part in the Butte Central Invitational this weekend, before hosting divisionals May 19.

Havre 11, Conrad 2

Conrad 000 101 0 - 2

Havre 007 030 x - 11

WP - Sam Oliver

Havre batting - Janae Boles 0-3, Sydney Wilting 2-4, Sam Oliver 2-4, Kinzee Peterson 3-3, Camryn Huston 2-4, Lauren Kato 2-4. Alex Barkus 2-3, Mia Olson 0-3, Peyton Brown 1-4.

Havre 5, Cut Bank 4,

Cut Bank 101 002 0 - 4

Havre 100 120 1 - 5

WP - Alex Barkus

Havre batting - Janae Boles 0-3, Sydney Wilting 1-4, Sam Oliver 3-3, Kinzee Peterson 1-3, Camryn Huston 1-3, Lauren Kato 1-3, Alex Barkus 0-3, Mia Olson 1-3, Peyton Brown 1-3.