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Men's state fastpitch softball returns to Havre

The fall sports season is coming fast. But, before the summer ends, there is one more sports event on the summer calendar and that takes place this week as the Montana State Men's Fastpitch tournament returns to Havre and the famed Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.

Havre has always had a strong tradition in fastpitch softball and that tradition will continue this week as six teams from Havre, Missoula and Plentywood will battle it out to be called state champions.

"There's no doubt that Memorial Field is the best site for a tournament that there is in Montana," tournament organizer Patch Wirtzberger said. "More important than just the immaculate playing surface though is the support that we get from the community."

The Press Box team from Missoula, returns to defend the state title it won last year with the defeat of the Gallery Lounge team from Havre, which is led by legendary pitcher Gary Evans. Evans will lead the Gallery Lounge back into action this year as they try to avenge last season's loss and runner-up finish.

In all, there will be two teams from Missoula competing, one team from Plentywood and three teams from Havre. In addition to the Gallery Lounge, the other Havre based teams in action will be Valley Furniture and Triple Dog Brewery.

In addition to Evans, the Gallery Lounge has a number of other talented players on their roster, including Wirtzberger and Daine Solomon, who were each standouts for the Havre North Stars that went on to play baseball collegiately. Gary Wagner, the former Havre High great, will also play for the Gallery Lounge. Wagner quarterbacked the Blue Ponies to their last state championship in football back in 2004, while also winning an NAIA national championship as a quarterback for Carroll College. Valley Furniture also has its share of star power as former Havre High and Montana State University-Northern standout Andy Smith headlines their roster. Smith is a member of the Northern Sports Hall of Fame. He was an All-State receiver for the Ponies and later earned All-American honors while catching passes for the Lights.

The Triple Dog Brewery team will also be led by a pair of former Havre High signal callers as both C.J. Evans and Justin Jensen help make up the roster. Evans played collegiately for both MSU-N and Minot State, while Jensen played quarterback and earned Second-Team All-Conference honors for Havre back in 2011, when HHS won its last Central A conference title in football.

The tournament will follow a true double-elimination format and will kick off Saturday morning at 8 a.m. Games will be played until 10 p.m. Saturday night. The action will resume Sunday at 8 a.m. And as of right now, the time for the championship game has yet to be determined. All games will be played at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.

 

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