Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Sammy Lovenguth, Havre High Softball

Before her senior season, Havre High softball player Samantha Lovenguth suffered a devastating knee injury that should have sidelined her for the final year of her career. Instead, Lovenguth overcame the odds to come back to play and finish her career on her own terms.

"I just feel really grateful to be playing," Lovenguth said. "I've been working four years for this so I feel really grateful. Happy to be out there."

Lovenguth has made the most out of her opportunity to play her final season as a Blue Pony. She is third on the team with a .350 batting average and fifth with a .500 on-base percentage. In her eight games played this season, she has five RBIs, four runs scored and a home run. She plays catcher for the Ponies, making her a part of Havre's defense that has helped the team reach an 11-3-1 record this season.

Lovenguth and the other Havre seniors are coming off an exciting finish at their senior night last week when they defeated Lewistown, 4-3, with a walk-off. While Lovenguth has made many memories over her four years at Havre, she believes that one may have taken the top spot.

"My favorite memory now would probably be this game that we just played. I don't think anything's topped that," Lovenguth said. "That was really special to me, especially on senior night."

Lovenguth got into softball at a young age because of her mother and aunt. While she originally liked soccer, she grew to appreciate the game of softball, especially how it allowed her to make many bonds and friendships.

"I just love the atmosphere of being around all the girls," Lovenguth said. "You build bonds with them that without the sport you probably wouldn't have."

As the season nears its end, Lovenguth will prepare to move on from high school and the softball team. While her time as a Pony will come to an end, she will use what she learned in softball in her future endeavours.

"You just have to work hard, give everything 110 percent and you can't take anything for granted," Lovenguth said. "You just have to play and don't sweat the small stuff."

Lovenguth and the Ponies will finish their regular season with a three-game road trip this week. She then looks to finish her Havre career with a postseason run beginning on May 21 in the Northeast A divisional in Havre. Before she finishes up her career, Lovenguth answered some questions for the Havre Daily News.

HDN: How did you originally get into softball?

Lovenguth: "I wasn't really interested in it when I was little. I was more into soccer but my mom and aunt both grew up in a softball environment and so they just kept pushing and I had a lot of really good coaches that just kept pushing and pushing, and I actually didn't even get into catching until eighth grade. I think that was when I really took it on and got serious about it."

HDN: What does the future hold for you?

Lovenguth: "As of right now, I'm undecided of where I'm going, but I know I'm going to go and get a teaching degree because I've always loved being around little kids. I'm going to be teaching first grade, that's my plan right now. So just all subjects."

HDN: What kind of music do you listen to?

Lovenguth: "I listen to all music, all genres, just everything. I don't have a favorite but music is really something fun, just everyone has fun with it."

HDN: Does it depend on the mood? What have you been listening to lately?

Lovenguth: "Whatever I'm in the mood for I play. I'm not picky. I've actually been getting a lot more into country. I used to not listen to it at all but now I'm getting more into it and finding different artists. Luke Bryan surprisingly. Morgan Wallen, love him."

HDN: Any favorite movies or television shows?

Lovenguth: "My all-time favorite movie is Titanic and my favorite tv show would probably be Friends. That's a classic."