Pony fastpitch sweeps their season-openers

After not playing for nearly two years, the Havre High softball team finally got back on the diamond this weekend to start the season. They wasted no time getting back to it as they defeated Browning, 20-0, on the road on Thursday and then defeated Columbia Falls, 5-4, Saturday.

“They performed really well,” HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said. “We did what we needed to do. We put the ball in play and made the plays that we should make.”

The Blue Ponies got their season started on the road in Browning where they won, 20-0. Havre put the game away early as they scored nine runs in the top of the first inning. The Ponies struck first when Avery Carlson scored from third on a wild pitch to give Havre a 1-0 lead. On the next two at-bats, Lizzi Haney and Jocelyn Staples scored on a catcher’s error and another wild pitch. The Ponies would score five runs before Browning forced the first out of the game.

“We were aggressive at the plate. We put the ball in play,” Vigliotti said. “We got up there and swung the ball.”

The Ponies would have several more big innings in the game as they scored three runs in the second inning and six runs in the fourth inning. Carlson led the team with three hits in four at-bats for the game and Quinn McDonald led the Ponies with four runs batted in.

Havre starting pitcher Lexi Haney made sure not to let Browning get back into the game as she only allowed one hit in her three innings pitched. Carlson also got to pitch in relief for two innings where she allowed a walk but no hits. Haney finished the game with five strikeouts and Carlson struck out four batters. With the large deficit, the game was called after five innings and the Ponies earned a 1-0 start to the season.

Havre faced a much harder test Saturday on the road in Columbia Falls, but they survived extra innings to win, 5-4. The Ponies struck first in the top of the second when Carlson grounded out into a fielder’s choice and Paige Parson scored from third. Havre then scored another run in the top of the third to make it 2-0 when Alyssa Oliver scored from second on a catcher’s error.

Columbia Falls got on the board in the bottom of the third to make the score, 2-1, but Havre responded with two runs in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1. In the bottom of the seventh, McKenna Rensel hit a double to drive in two runs to cut the deficit to one. Columbia then got a single to drive in another run to tie the game and force an extra inning.

In the top of the eighth and with a runner already placed on second, a ground out from Danni Wirtzberger got McDonald home to take the lead. Lexi Haney then recorded three straight outs in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Carlson recorded the only hit for the Ponies Saturday. She and Wirtzberger also had the team’s only two RBIs. Haney pitched all eight innings for the Ponies. Even though she gave up three earned runs, she struck out 13 batters.

With the season finally started, Vigliotti now has an idea of what his team is capable of. As they move forward into the rest of the season, he can be confident that his girls will pitch well and be aggressive at the plate.

“Our pitching will be there, we’re not going to walk a lot of people. We’re going to throw strikes,” Vigliotti said. “We’re going to battle at the plate. We’re going to put the ball in play when we need to.”

Havre will next play in the Lewistown tournament this Friday and Saturday.

Havre 20, Browning 0

Havre 9 3 1 6 1 X X - 20 8 2

Browning 0 0 0 0 0 X X - 0 1 7

WP - Lexi Haney

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 3-4, Lizzi Haney 0-3, Jocelyn Staples 1-2, Alyssa Oliver 1-4, Keylee Kline 1-1, Lexi Haney 0-2, Paige Parsons 0-0, Quinn McDonald 2-3, Ellie Collins 0-1, Danni Wirtzberger 0-3.

Havre 5, Columbia Falls 4

Havre 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 - 5 1 2

Columbia Falls 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 - 4 10 8

WP - Lexi Haney

LP - S. Mann

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 1-5, Lizz Haney 0-4, Jocelyn Staples 0-4, Alyssa Oliver 0-4, Keylee Kline 0-3, Lexi Haney 0-2, Quinn McDonald 0-4, Ellie Collins 0-1, Danni Wirtzberger 0-3, Paige parson 0-0.