Havre High softball cools down in Lewistown

The Havre High softball team has been off to a strong start this spring. In their first three conference games, the Blue Ponies dominated to a 3-0 start. But in non-conference play in a tournament in Lewistown this past weekend, the Ponies went 0-4.

On Friday, the Ponies suffered an 11-8 loss to Stillwater and a 10-0 loss to Billings Central. On Saturday, the Ponies lost, 8-4, to Columbia Falls and they lost, 19-7, to Livingston.

In the opening game of the tournament against Stillwater, the Ponies struck first in the top of the first inning. After Lizzi Haney got on base with a single, Molly Huse singled to right field to get Haney home for the 1-0 lead.

But Stillwater got its own offense rolling in the bottom of the first. After getting runners on first and second thanks to a single and an error, an RBI single tied the game. After a walk, a runner scored on a groundout to give Stillwater a 2-1 lead. Jaden Broadman then hit a double to right field to drive in another pair of runs to make it 4-1.

The Ponies started the second with Elle Verploegen reaching first on an error. Pinch runner Taylor Ball then scored on a single from Danni Wirtzberger to make it 4-2.

Some mistakes by the Ponies cost them in the bottom of the second. After two errors and a walk to load the bases with no outs, Izzy Adams got a runner home on a groundout. Maylee Lowell then singled to drive in another runner to extend the lead to 6-2.

In the top of the third, the Ponies cut into the deficit. After Alyssa Oliver got on base with a double, Huse hit a home run to center field to cut the score to 6-4. Havre and Stillwater then went cold over the next few innings as the score remained, 6-4, heading to the top of the fifth.

In the fifth, it looked like the game would head in the Ponies’ favor. After an error and a single to get a pair of runners on base to start the inning, a sacrifice fly from Oliver cut the deficit to 6-5. After Huse reached base on a single, Hannah Gingery hit a single to center field to knock in another run and tie the game.

The Ponies continued to roll in the top of the fifth. After Verploegen was hit by pitch to load the bases, Huse scored on a fielder’s choice to give Havre the lead. Gingery then scored another fielder’s choice to give Havre an 8-6 lead.

But the Ponies could not contain the Stillwater offense in the bottom of the fifth. After a runner reached base on an error, Broadman hit a single to knock in the run and cut into the deficit. A Pony error then allowed Broadman to score herself and tie the game.

Stillwater continued to get runners on base. Hannah Kimball scored on an error to give Stillwater a 9-8 lead in the game, Katelyn Hamilton then drove in a run with a double to right field. Adams added another double to extend the lead to 11-8.

Later Friday, the Ponies fell behind early as they faced Billings Central. After recording two outs in the bottom of the first, the Ponies walked two straight batters. A single to left field then gave Billings Central a 1-0 lead.

Billings Central kept it rolling in the bottom of the second. Back-to-back errors early in the inning allowed Billings Central to score a run to extend the lead to 2-0. Billings Central then loaded the bases with a hit batter and a walk. Genevieve Hastings took advantage with a double to clear the bases and push the lead to 5-0. Hastings then scored herself to make it 6-0.

The Ponies failed to slow down Billings Central in the bottom of the third as three more runs pushed the lead to 9-0. On offense, the Ponies could not keep up as they only recorded three hits in the game. Another run in the bottom of the fifth gave Billings Central a 10-0 win.

Looking to turn things around Saturday, the Ponies got off to a solid start against Columbia Falls. In the bottom of the first, Avery Carlson got on base with a single. Later in the inning, Carlson scored on an error to give Havre the lead.

After the Wildkats scored in the top of the second to tie the game, Carlson recorded an RBI single to give Havre a 2-1 lead. But the Wildkats kept pace with another run in the top of the third. In response, Havre scored another run in the bottom of the third to retake the lead. In the fourth, the Wildkats and Ponies again exchanged runs as Havre held a 4-3 lead heading to the fifth.

The Wildkats finally took control of the game in the top of the fifth. After Haden Peters got on base for Columbia Falls, Maddie Moultray hit a single to center field to get the runner home to tie the game. Another hit drove in another run to give Columbia Falls the lead. After they loaded the bases, a double from Kylee Stacy gave Columbia Falls a 7-4 lead. The Wildkats scored another run before the game went to the bottom of the fifth where the Ponies were unable to score.

The weekend ended with Havre’s loss to Livingston. The Rangers got their bats going early as they took a 10-0 lead in the top of the first. The Ponies got some offense in the bottom of the third thanks to RBIs from Oliver, Huse and Gingery, but they still trailed 10-3.

The Rangers continued to roll at the plate as they scored seven more runs in the top of the second to stretch the lead to 17-3. Havre tried to keep pace with a trio of runs in the bottom of the second. But the Rangers kept rolling to push the lead to 19-6 in the top of the third. Despite their best efforts, the Ponies could not extend the game as they lost, 19-7, in three innings.

Despite the losses, some Ponies played well over the weekend. Over the four games, Huse, Gingery and Haney each recorded five hits. Huse also led the team with five RBIs through the weekend.

The Ponies are now 3-4 on the season. They now return home for a conference game against Glendive. The Ponies will play Glendive this Friday at 5 p.m. at Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.

Stillwater 11, Havre 8

HAV 1 1 2 0 4 X X - 8 8 7

STW 4 2 0 0 5 X X - 11 9 2

WP - Hannah Kimball

LP - Elle Verploegen

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 0-3, Lizzi Haney 2-3, Alyssa Oliver 1-3, Molly Huse 3-3, Hannah Gingery 1-3, Elle Verploegen 0-2, Taylor Ball 0-3, Jersi Morse 0-3, Keylee Kline 0-2, Camille Keeley 0-1, Danni Wirtzberger 1-3.

Billings Central 10, Havre 0

HAV 0 0 0 0 0 X X - 0 3 3

BC 1 5 3 0 1 X X - 10 6 0

WP - Payton Whitehead

LP - Avery Carlson

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 0-2, Lizzi Haney 1-2, Alyssa Oliver 0-2, Molly Huse 0-2, Hannah Gingery 1-2, Elle Verploegen 0-2, Camille Keeley 0-2, Keylee Kline 1-2, Danni Wirtzberger 0-2.

Columbia Falls 8, Havre 4

CF 0 1 1 1 5 X X - 8 8 2

HAV 1 1 1 1 0 X X - 4 8 0

WP - Maddie Moultray

LP - Avery Carlson

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 3-3, Lizzi Haney 0-2, Alyssa Oliver 2-3, Molly Huse 1-3, Hannah Gingery 1-3, Camille Keeley 0-3, Elle Verploegen 1-3, Keylee Kline 0-2, Danni Wirtzberger 0-2.

Livingston 19, Havre 7

LIV 10 7 2 X X X X - 19 5 0

HAV 3 3 1 X X X X - 7 13 0

WP - Ava Mallone

LP - Molly Huse

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 1-1, Lizzi Haney 2-3, Alyssa Oliver 1-2, Molly Huse 1-2, Hannah Gingery 2-2, Camille Keeley 1-2, Jersi Morse 2-2, Elle Verploegen 1-1, Danni Wirtzberger 2-2.