Havre softball to compete in Laverne Tournament in Butte

After wrapping up its conference season undefeated, the Havre High softball team will now wrap up the regular season with the Laverne Tournament in Butte this weekend. The Blue Ponies will compete in four games over the course of today and Saturday, so they will look for further improvement before beginning the postseason.

"It's just another opportunity for us to get on the field four times and continue to get better and help us prepare for our divisional tournament next week," HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said.

The Ponies begin the tournament today at 3:30 p.m. with a game against Frenchtown. The Ponies have already faced Frenchtown this season when the two squads met up just a couple weeks ago. Frenchtown got the better of Havre with a 10-1 victory.

The Ponies will then continue the tournament later today at 7 p.m. with a game against Ronan. The Ponies will then face Libby Saturday at 12:30 p.m. The Ponies have not faced either of these teams from the west this season, so it should be good experience before the postseason.

"It's going to be a good test for us and good competition right before the divisional tournament," Vigliotti said.

The Ponies will then wrap up the tournament with a game against Polson Saturday at 2:15 p.m. When Havre and Polson last played a couple weeks ago, Havre won 6-2.

The Ponies enter the tournament with a 14-2 record. If the Ponies want to stay hot before the postseason, their best players will need to continue to play well.

On the mound, pitcher Elle Verploegen has had a stellar season for the Ponies. In her 12 starts this season, she has a 10-2 record with a 3.364 ERA, 82 strikeouts and 18 walks allowed. Rachel Jette might also get some time pitching this weekend as she has a 4-0 record, a 1.286 ERA, 13 strikeouts and five walks allowed this season.

At the plate, the Ponies will not be short on heavy hitters. Avery Carlson leads the team with a .574 batting average and a .662 on-base percentage. She also has 28 RBIs, four home runs and 33 runs scored this season. Camille Keeley is also having a strong year at the plate with a .491 batting average, five home runs and 37 RBIs.

Jersi Morse is having a strong season with a .436 batting average and 22 RBIs for the Ponies. In her senior year, Molly Huse has made an impact with a .417 batting average, 20 RBIs and four home runs. As the Ponies head into this weekend, they will look to keep the bats hot.

"Offensively up and down the lineup, we're getting production from everybody," Vigliotti said. "For us, it's just continuing to do the things that we do and these guys know how to play so it's really just more reps and getting out there."

Once this tournament is over, the Ponies will compete in the divisional tournament next weekend in Billings. With one last chance for competition before the postseason, Vigliotti just wants to see the Ponies stay in a rhythm.

"(I want us to) just keep doing what we're doing," Vigliotti said. "Our pitching has been solid all year. Our production has been good all year so for us, it's about consistency."

The HHS softball team will begin the Laverne Tournament in Butte today at 3:30 p.m. with a game against Frenchtown.