Havre softball dominates Cut Bank to open the season

After several weeks of delay, the Havre High softball team finally began the season with a doubleheader against Cut Bank at Sixth Avenue Memorial Field this past Saturday. In their first action of the year, the Blue Ponies looked strong with a 10-0 win and a 22-0 win. Along with how well they played, HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti was happy to finally get the season started.

"It was nice to be on the softball field. It was a beautiful day," Vigliotti said. "Offensively, I think we only had two strikeouts so that tells me we're being aggressive at the plate and that's what we want so, overall, I couldn't be happier."

After a scoreless first inning in the first game of the doubleheader, the Ponies struck first in the bottom of the second. After hitting a double, Jersi Morse scored on a passed ball to give the Ponies their first run of the season.

The Ponies added onto the lead in the bottom of the third. After loading the bases, Hannah Gingery doubled to left field to drive in a pair of runs to make it 3-0. Brenna Hanson then scored on a sacrifice fly from Elle Verploegen to make it 4-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, Camille Kelley hit a two-run home run to left field to make it 6-0. Later in the inning, a walk with the bases loaded pushed the lead to 7-0. Then in the bottom of the fifth with a runner on, Molly Huse doubled to center field to drive in the run and make it 8-0.

After a scoreless top of the sixth, the Ponies looked to put it away in the bottom of the inning. After a walk and a single to open the inning, a Cut Bank error allowed both runners to score to make it 10-0 to end the game early.

Many Ponies performed well at the plate to start the season. Both Huse and Morse recorded two hits and two RBIs in the contest. On the mound, Verploegen pitched the entire game for the Ponies. Along with no runs, Verploegen recorded 11 strikeouts and she allowed no hits and one walk.

"It was good to get in rhythm. We've been working all winter to get ready for this," Verploegen said about her performance. "It was a lot of fun to finally get out and be able to play."

The Ponies continued to roll in the second game of their doubleheader. In the bottom of the first, Avery Carlson tripled to lead it off and then scored on a dropped third strike to give Havre the lead. Later in the inning, Huse drove in a run with an infield single.

Keeley then scored on a fielder's choice to make it 3-0. Later in the inning, Huse scored on a wild pitch to add onto Havre's lead. Then with the bases loaded, Danni Wirtzberger doubled to left field to drive in another pair of runs.

After loading the bases again, Shelby Huston scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 7-0. Keeley then hit a single to left to drive in both runners on base to make it a 9-0 game at the end of the first.

The Ponies continued to dominate in the bottom of the second. After two hits to start the inning, Kamree Oliver singled to left to drive in a run. Rachel Jette then scored on a groundout to make it an 11-0 game. Two batters later, Oliver scored on another groundout.

Wirtzberger scored herself on a Cut Bank error to add onto the lead. With two runners on, Keeley cleared the bases with a single to left. Morse followed that up with a single of her own to get Keeley home to make it 16-0.

Later in the inning, two straight hits from the Ponies drove in some more runs to make it 18-0. Then with the bases loaded, Carlson put the exclamation mark on the inning with a grand slam to center field.

With no playing time for either team before this weekend, Havre and Cut Bank played a few more innings to get some more reps in. But with Havre's daunting lead, the game was eventually called after four innings.

Again, many Ponies excelled at the plate. Six different players had two hits and four different players had at least three RBIs in the contest. Carlson led the way with four RBIs as she went 2-for-3 from the plate. Jette pitched all four innings for Havre as she allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts.

While the Ponies dominated, there are still some things they can improve on moving forward. In their first action of the season, Vigliotti believes they could have done better in their base running and their defense. But now that the season has finally started, he looks forward to getting that worked out and playing some games this spring

"Now we just need some reps," Vigliotti said. "This was good for the soul to get out and get some Vitamin D and get some live at bats so it was a good day."

The HHS softball team will return to the field with some games later this week.

Havre 10, Cut Bank 0

CB 0 0 0 0 0 0 X - 0 0 2

HAV 0 1 3 3 1 2 X - 10 8 1

WP - Elle Verploegen

LP - M. Burke

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 1-3, Lizzi Haney 0-4, Camille Keeley 1-3, Molly Huse 2-3, Jersi Morse 2-4, Brenna Hanson 0-0, Hannah Gingery 2-4, Elle Verploegen 0-1, Danni Wirtzberger 0-3, Kamree Oliver 0-0.

Havre 22, Cut Bank 0

CB - 0 0 0 0 X X X - 0 2 3

HAV - 9 13 0 X X X X - 22 14 1

WP - Rachel Jette

LP - Stiner

Havre Batting - Avery Carlson 2-3, Lizzi Haney 0-3, Brenna Hanson 0-1, Camille Keeley 2-3, Molly Huse 2-4, Jersi Morse 2-4, Rachel Jette 1-4, Kamree Oliver 2-2, Shelby Huston 1-2, Danni Wirtzberger 2-3.