Blue Ponies look to continue strong play at divisionals

The postseason has finally arrived for the Havre High softball team. After going undefeated in the Northeast A and competing in several tournaments over the past month, the Blue Ponies will compete in the Eastern A Divisional in Billings this week. As they look to clinch a spot in the state tournament, HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti is confident the Ponies can make a deep run at divisionals.

"We've been playing our best softball here at the end of the season and that's what we want to be doing," Vigliotti said. "If we go down and play softball like we can, then the results will take care of themselves."

The Ponies began the divisional tournament today with a game against Sidney or Livingston. Those two teams played earlier this morning. Sidney would be a favorable matchup since the Ponies swept them by scores of 18-0 in both games this season. The Ponies are not as familiar with Livingston, but Vigliotti believes if the Ponies can continue their strong play this season, they will be okay to start the tournament.

"No matter who that opening round opponent is, we just want to be as consistent as we have been in the last three or four weeks," Vigliotti said. "Our pitching has been great, our defense has been really solid the last few weeks and we've been getting production from everybody up and down the lineup so for us, it just comes down to being us and playing the way we know how to play."

The Ponies enter the tournament with a 16-4 record and an 8-0 record in the Northeast A this season. Over the course of the season, the Ponies have been led by several stellar players. On the mound, pitcher Elle Verploegen has a 12-4 record with a 4.184 ERA and 95 strikeouts this season.

The Ponies also have many strong hitters at the plate. Senior Avery Carlson leads the team with a .585 batting average and a .667 on-base percentage. She also has six home runs and 33 RBIs this season. Camille Keeley should also be dangerous at the plate with seven home runs, 44 RBIs and a .485 batting average this spring.

Over the course of the tournament, many teams will battle for the few spots in the state tournament. Earlier today, Miles City and Lockwood played each other. The winner of that game then faced Billings Central earlier today.

Laurel and Lewistown will play each other later this afternoon. If the Ponies win their opening game of the tournament, they would face the winner of the Hardin-Glendive game that will take place later today. Looking at the rest of the field, Vigliotti expects Billings Central to be the toughest competition.

After a strong season, it is now time for the Ponies to lay it all out on the line. There will be some tough competition between them and the state tournament, but if the Ponies can manage the adversity, they should find themselves in next week's state tournament in Belgrade.

"When you get into these tournaments, it's always a little different feel and there's a little more stress from inning to inning and pitch to pitch," Vigliotti said. "So for us, it's all about managing that stress and just playing good solid softball."

The HHS softball team began the Eastern A Divisional Tournament today at Stewart Park in Billings.