Havre High softball team heads to Butte tourney

The Havre High softball program is finally getting back into the swing of things, and this weekend the Blue Ponies will take care of four games on their dwindling regular season schedule. Today and Saturday the Central A Ponies (11-5, 6-2) will be in Butte for the Butte Central Invitational. And today the Ponies will face the Anaconda Copperheads at this afternoon, and the Central A Butte Central Maroons at 6:45. On Saturday the Ponies will face the Hamilton Broncs at 10:45 a.m., and the Hardin Bulldogs at 4 p.m. "(Butte Central) is the most important game," Havre High head coach Bob Evans said. "We would really like to get that win so we don't split with them." Earlier this season the Ponies defeated the Maroons 7-4 at home. It was early in the season and the Ponies were still focusing on the basic techniques of softball. This time around the Ponies just need to keep playing how they have been. They need solid pitching from Abigail Ita and Tabitha Myers, as well as solid defense. They need productive bats from Holly Cartwright at the top of the lineup down to Dylann Williams in the No. 9 spot. The majority of the Pony focus may be on the conference rival Maroons, but the Copperheads, Bulldogs and Broncs may also challenge HHS this weekend. The Copperheads and Bulldogs are both solid programs, but from what Evans has seen, nothing major stands out. But the Ponies still have to play good, sound softball to come away with wins. The Broncs are also a decent softball program, and have been playing very well as of late. But looking at their scores, the Broncs haven't been putting up very many runs. They have averages about three to four per ballgame, and Evans thinks his Ponies should come out on op with good pitching. This weekend should bring four good challenges to the Ponies, as well as four good opportunities. "These should all be teams we can compete with," Evans said. "I am hoping this will give us a chance to play some of our young kids to see how they react to varsity pitchers. We are hoping to get some playing time out of our freshman and maybe out of the girls that haven't played much." Freshmen Roxanna Jensen, Davee McLeod and Mary Lyons will join the varsity roster this weekend. HHS has been playing with just 10 girls, and those three girls should help the Ponies. And earning valuable experience this weekend, Evans is also hoping to see something out of these girls that will benefit the Ponies at the state tournament. "That's what's nice about getting conference games out of the way," Evans said. "We can use these two weekends to use all of our girls." Today and Saturday the Ponies will be in Butte Central for the Butte Central Invite. Today the Ponies will face the Copperheads this afternoon, and the Maroons at 6:45 p.m. And On Saturday the Ponies will face the Broncs at 10:45 a.m., and the Bulldogs at 4 p.m.