Ryan Divish
Havre Daily News Sports Editor
rdivish@havredailynews.com
The Havre High fast pitch softball team just can't seem to get a break on the road. The Ponies suffered yet another road loss on Saturday in heartbreaking fashion, falling to the Conrad Cowgirls 2-1 in Conrad.
The Blue Ponies stranded a small village of base runners and couldn't quite seem to get the clutch hit when they needed it. To make matters worse, they ran out of time with two innings left.
Because there was a tournament being run concurrently, the two were only able to play five innings because of a time limit.
"I really think if we had gotten to play those last two innings, we might have been able to pull the win out," said Ponies head coach Bob Evans. "We just kind of ran out of chances.
Down 2-0, Havre tried to mount a late comeback, as Laura Zentmire led off the fifth inning with a single. She later scored on Kendra Mader's ground ball to second. However, the rally would end there with runners on first and second.
In all, Havre left 11 runners on base, including bases-loaded three times.
"We just couldn't get that big hit when we needed it," Evans said. "I don't know if they get nervous or what. In practice, we are so much more aggressive and really hit the ball, but in games it seems like we get tight."
The lack of run support overshadowed a solid pitching effort from senior Kristen Evanson, who allowed just six hits and two runs.
"Kristin really threw well," Evans said. "We just didn't give her any type of run support."
Zentmire led Havre with two hits, while Casey Benner and Tereyl Shrauger each added hits.
"Laura has been hitting the ball well for us and Kendra Mader made some nice catches in the outfield," Evans said. "We played pretty well for the most part. We just didn't hit enough."
The Ponies' doubleheader against Browning scheduled for Friday was postponed because of snow. They will make it up this Friday at 3 p.m.
Conrad 2, Havre 1
Havre Blue Ponies 000 01 - 1 4 2
Conrad Cowgirls 101 0X - 2 6 2
Kristin Evanson and Kyla Kelsey; M. Sullivan and J. Peters.
WP - Sullivan; LP - Peters.
BLUE PONIES HITTING - Kyla Kelsey 0-2, Sjanettee D'Hooge 0-3, Whitney Barnekoff 0-2, Laura Zentmire 2-2, Tereyl Shrauger 1-2, McKayla Patterson 0-1, Kendra Mader 0-1, Casey Benner 1-1, Erika Briese 0-2.
COWGIRLS HITTING - B. Bliss 1-1, H. Neumiller 1-2, J. Peters 0-2, K. Miller 0-2, M. Sullivan 1-2, L. Montyo 2-2, H. Fethers 1-2, C. DeBoo 0-2, A. Shoerock 0-1.
2B - none
3B - none
HR - none
