Blue Pony Alumni Game, Shaina's Challenge a big hit once again

For nearly a decade, the Shaina's Challenge Men's Fastpitch softball tournament has brought together some of the best athletes and fastpitch players in Havre and for a good cause.

That's one legacy of Shaina's Challenge. But another great part about it has been the annual Blue Pony softball alumni game, which kicked off the tournament again this year with the Havre softball alums playing Friday night at Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.

The three day tournament saw the return of some stellar Havre athletes to the diamond. Yet, in the end, the championship came down to Valley Furniture and Tire Rama and ultimately, Tire Rama took home the title with a 10-7 win in the title game Sunday afternoon.

However, each year that the Shaina's Challenge is held, one of the best parts is the alumni game. And even though this year's version wasn't too competitive, with the younger Pony alums winning 10-0, it still meant a lot to the players to be out on the field again.

"It's just nice to come out and play with everyone that I have played with since I was little," Paige Henderson said. "I know all the girls from the older to the younger. So it's just fun to get out and be able to compete a little bit."

Henderson had one of the most eye-popping plays in the game as she made a diving stab at short. Her team, which also featured Camryn and Sydne Huston, won 10-0. While the game was the first alumni game for Camryn Huston, who just graduated at Havre High, her sister Sydne had played a few times and this was their first time playing together.

"It was pretty cool to be able to play with her," Sydne Huston said. "We never got the chance to play together before. She was a freshman after I was a senior and we just missed each other by one year, so it was fun to get to do this together."

Both Camryn and Sydne came through with multiple hits and drove in runs in the win for the younger Pony alums. They also played right next to each other in the field as Camryn played her customary position of first base with Sydne beside her at second.

"She left right as I came in, so it was really fun," Camryn Huston said. "I felt like I shouldn't have been here honestly. I felt like fresh meat. But it was really fun getting to play with some of the older girls. I got to play with some people that I have never gotten to play with."

Of course, the Ponies only have so many alumni members since the team was started back in 2005. However, a key player on some of these early teams was Karly (Evans) Danielson. She has been a regular participant in the alumni game and said getting to play with other former Ponies is the best part.

"I think the best part is getting together with this group of girls," Danielson said. "A lot of us went through high school together and some of us are younger but we all know each other and it's just fun to get out and see people that you don't see on a regular basis."

After the Alumni game took place Friday night, the tournament got underway with teams representing Bear Paw Credit Union, the Gallery Lounge, Tire Rama and Valley Furniture all winning opening round games. By the time Sunday rolled around, the only teams left standing were Tire Rama, the Gallery Lounge, Valley Furniture and Master Sports. Valley Furniture eventually played its way into the championship game but a 10-7 loss gave the crown to Tire Rama. All games were played at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.