BOMBS AWAY: Ponies dominate Havre Invite softball tourney

The Havre High softball team knew that it couldn't do anything to improve its position with the Central A conference heading into the divisional tournament.

But what the Blue Ponies can control is how well they are playing heading into the postseason and if Saturday, at the Havre Invitational was any indication, the rest of the Central A should watch out.

In two games, against Class B opponents at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field in Havre, the Ponies dazzled their fans with a slew of home runs in back-to-back romps over Cut Bank and Conrad. Havre won the first game 14-1, closing things out in the top of the fifth. Havre won the second game over Conrad 15-0 in just three innings.

The finishing touch on that win came when junior Peyton Brown hit a three-run home run, putting the mercy rule into effect with Havre leading by 15 runs or more.

"That's the team I know we can be," HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said. "We had everything going. Our defense was making plays. I thought that Lauren did a great job on the mound and we hit the ball really well. It was good to see because that is the kind of team we can be."

Havre and Cut Bank met in the first game of the Havre Invitational Saturday morning and in the top of the first inning, the Wolves hit a home run to grab a 1-0 lead. That run proved to be the only one allowed by Lauren Kato, the Havre senior who started both games.

Down 1-0, the Ponies responded. Janae Boles opened the bottom of the first with a bunt to reach base safely. Then, Sydney Wilting crushed a two-run homer to center, giving the Ponies a 2-1 advantage.

It was the beginning of a big day for Wilting, who cleared the bases with a three-run double in the second inning, pushing the Havre lead to 5-1. After HHS was held scoreless in the third, Wilting led off the fourth with a walk. That set the stage for Kato to help herself, which she did with a two-run single that made the score 7-1.

A few batters later, Mia Olson hit a three-run shot, giving the Ponies a 10-1 lead and when Wilting came up for the second time, with the bases loaded, she took advantage of the opportunity, hitting a grand slam over the fence in center, extending the Havre lead to 14-1. Her second homer of the game also gave Wilting a total of nine RBIs, on top of three hits and three runs scored in four at-bats. She also saved some runs defensively with a stellar catch.

"Sydney was incredible," Vigliotti said. "She is just so scrappy. On that first home run, I wanted her to bunt and she got down 0-2. Then she battled back and got it to 3-2 and then she hits it out of the park. That just shows the kind of competitor she is. I don't know what else to say. She also made that great play out in center, she just was outstanding."

Kato, who got the win after allowing just three hits and one run while striking out six in five innings, also managed two hits, as did Sam Lovenguth and Peyton Brown. Zephy Linton was 3-for-3 along with Wilting. She also scored twice. Havre managed 16 hits as a team.

The Ponies also played in the nightcap of the Havre Invitational, taking on Conrad and once again, Kato was on the mound and in just three innings of work, she allowed one hit, on runs and struck out three. She eventually earned the win, her fifth of the season.

"I asked Lauren if she thought she would pitch both games and she said she could," Vigliotti said. "So we wanted to try, and I thought she did a great job. She struggled a little early against Cut Bank, but she came back really strong and threw really well the rest of the way. I was proud of her effort, proud of all the seniors and proud of all our kids."

HHS finished the game with 15 hits, scoring four runs in the first, six in the second and five in the third. Kinzee Peterson, another senior, went 3-for-3 in her final home game, while also contributing with three RBIs. Boles was also 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Kato also got a pair of hits as did Sam Oliver, who had two hits and two runs scored.

Joining Peterson with a team-high three RBIs was Brown, who hit a home-run in the bottom of the third, which ended the game after putting Havre in front 15-0. She finished 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Katelyn Maloughney also had a hit and two RBIs. Olson also pitched in with a hit and two runs scored.

Havre (6-9) will head to the Laverne Combo Invitational in Butte next week which starts Friday and continues Saturday.

Havre 14, Cut Bank 1

Cut Bank 100 00 - 1 3 0

Havre 230 9x - 14 16 0

WP - Lauren Kato

LP - S. Burke

Havre - Janae Boles 1-3, Sydney Wilting 3-3, Sam Oliver 1-4, Kinzee Peterson 1-2, Lauren Kato 2-3 Kaitlyn Anderson 0-1, Mia Olson 1-4, Sam Lovenguth 2-2, Zephy Linton 3-3, Peyton Brown 2-2.

Havre 15, Conrad 0

Conrad 000 - 0 1 0

Havre 465 - 15 15 0

WP - Lauren Kato

LP - W. Durucher

Havre - Janae Boles 2-2, Sydney Wilting 1-3, Sam Oliver 2-3, Kinzee Peterson 3-3, Lauren Kato 2-2, Mia Olson 1-2, Jera Verploegen 0-2, Kaitlyn Anderson 0-1, Katelyn Maloughney 1-1, Peyton Brown 3-3.