Ryan Divish
Havre Daily News Sports Editor
rdivish@havredailynews.com
The Havre High fast pitch softball team only got one win on the weekend, but it was a big one.
Kelsey Evans base hit in the bottom of the seventh scored Tereyl Shrauger to give Havre a 5-4 conference win over Ronan at the LaVerne Combo Memorial softball tournament in Butte.
The win avenged an earlier loss to Ronan and gave the Ponies their third conference win of the season.
"It was a big win, especially because it was a conference win," said head coach Bob Evans. "Those are always a little more important."
Havre grabbed an early 2-0 first inning lead. Whitney Barnekoff ripped an inside the part home run, and Laura Zentmire singled and later scored on a fielder's choice.
The Ponies added to their lead in the second inning when Katie McLeod scored Shrauger with single. Havre pushed the lead to 4-1 in the fifth inning as Barnekoff had an RBI single.
Ronan answered with a run in the sixth and then tied the game at four in its last at-bat as a pair Pony mistakes proved costly.
"We probably should have won the game easier," Evans said. "But we made a couple mistakes in that last inning."
In the bottom of the seventh, Shrauger led off the inning by reaching on an error. Jessica Obrecht advanced her to second with a sacrifice bunt and Evans ended the game in dramatic fashion with her clutch hit.
"I was really pleased with how we executed in that last inning," Evans said. "We got the bunt down and we got the big hit when we needed it. Our execution is getting much better."
Barnekoff and Laura Zentmire had two hits each to lead the Ponies. Havre ace Kristin Evanson got the win, allowing just four hits and striking out six hitters.
"I was really pleased with how the girls were able to come back after giving up the lead," Evans said. "It was a great game."
The rest of the weekend wasn't quite as fun for the Ponies.
Havre opened the tournament on Friday with a 6-0 loss to Glendive. The Red Devils scored four runs in the first inning off Havre starter Kelsey Evans.
The Ponies managed just three hits against starter Debbie Dornsbach, who transferred to Glendive from Whitefish.
"She was tough," Evans said. "She makes them a very good team."
On Saturday, Havre was defeated by Class B powerhouse Noxon 12-3. The Ponies got RBI singles from Kelsey Evans and Zentmire and hits from Sjanetee D'Hooge and Stacey Sheppard.
Later in the day, Havre lost to Hamilton for the second time this season as the Broncs rolled to a 12-1 win. The Ponies hurt themselves with eight errors in the field and managed just two hits in the loss.
"Hamilton is just tough," Evans said. "They really are at a different level."
Overall, Evans was still happy with the weekend. The Ponies turned three double plays defensively and are starting to hit the ball with more consistency.
"Our infield really played tough," he said. "We made some big defensive plays. Our hitting is getting better. We're not striking out quite as often."
The experience was also big as he played freshmen Stacey Sheppard, Steph Stremcha and Jessica Obrecht extensively.
"Our freshmen really played well," he said. "Steph made some nice plays at shortstop and Jessica was solid catching. It really gives them a chance to gain some experience that will really help for next year."
Glendive 6, Havre 0
Havre Blue Ponies 000 00 - 0 3 3
Glendive Red Devils 401 10 - 6 7 0
Dorsbach and Dekaye; Kelsey Evans and Kyla Kelsey.
WP - Dorsbach; LP - Evans.
BLUE PONIES HITTING - Kelsey Evans 1-3, Katie McLeod 0-2; Whitney Barnekoff 0-1; Laura Zentmire 1-2; Sjanettee D'Hooge 0-2; Kendra Mader 0-2; Tereyl Shrauger 0-1; Kyla Kelsey 1-1; Casey Benner 0-2
RED DEVILS HITTING - Dekaye 1-2; Stenhone 1-4; Maddock 1-4; Brig 1-2; Wynne 1-3; Curringhan 1-2; Basta 1-3; Christianson 0-3; Dorsbach 0-2.
2B - Zentmire, Curringhan
3B - Wynne
HR - none
Havre 5, Ronan 4
Ronan Maidens 000 101 2 - 4 4 3
Havre Blue Ponies 210 010 1 - 5 6 2
Couture and Taylor; Kristin Evanson and Jessica Obrecht.
WP - Evanson; LP - Couture.
MAIDENS HITTING - Lynch 0-3; Couture 1-2; Taylor 1-3; Sorrell 0-3; Cordier 0-2; Bilile 1-3; K. Cordier 0-3; Starkel 1-3; Krantz 0-3.
BLUE PONIES HITTING - Kelsey Evans 1-3 (RBI); Katie McLeod 1-3 (RBI); Whitney Barnekoff 2-3 (2 RBI); Laura Zentmire 2-3; Steph Stremcha 0-3; Erika Briese 0-3; Sjanettee D'Hooge 0-3; Tereyl Shrauger 0-2; Jessica Obrecht 0-2.
2B - Couture
3B - none
HR - none
Noxon 12, Havre 3
Havre Blue Ponies 000 030 - 3 5 3
Noxon Red Devils 044 04X - 12 11 0
Kelsey Evans and Kyla Kelsey; Flockerzi and Smith.
WP - Flockerzi; LP - Evans.
BLUE PONIES HITTING - Kelsey Evans 1-3 (RBI); Casey Benner 0-3 (RBI); Whitney Barnekoff 0-2; Laura Zentmire 1-2 (RBI); Tereyl Shrauger 0-2; Steph Stremcha 0-2; Kendra Mader 0-2; Sjanettee D'Hooge 1-1; Kyla Kelsey 0-2; Stacey Sheppard 1-2
RED DEVILS HITTING - Green 2-3; Erwin 1-3; Matthew 0-4; Wilson 1-2; Smith 2-4; Green 0-3; Freerksen 3-4; Herbig 1-3; Flockerzi 1-4.
2B - Wilson, Sheppard
3B - Erwin
HR - none
Hamilton 12, Havre 1
Havre Blue Ponies 100 00 - 1 2 8
Hamilton Broncs 321 6X - 12 10 0
Huseby and Berk; Kristen Evanson and Jessica Obrecht.
WP - Huseby; LP - Evanson.
BLUE PONIES HITTING - Kelsey Evans 1-2; Katie McLeod 0-2; Whitney Barnekoff 0-1; Laura Zentmire 1-2; Kendra Mader 0-2; Steph Stremcha 0-2; Erika Briese 0-2; Sjanettee D'Hooge 0-2; Jessica Obrecht 0-1.
BRONC HITTING - Huseby 0-2; Schultz 1-3; Anderson 2-3; Eckhardt 3-3; Wood 1-3; Berk 1-3; Krueger 2-3; Bryan 2-3; Hoge 1-2.
2B - Anderson
3B - none
HR - Anderson, Eckardt
