Ponies have their own 'Natural'

In the decade-long history of Havre High softball, there have been many tremendous players and attempting to figure out the best would be an exercise in futility. However, if a list of the greatest players in program history is ever compiled, there is no doubt that Paige Henderson's name belongs near the top.

"She's good, she's a good player," HHS head coach Bob Evans Sr said. "I always think she is one of the six or seven best players to ever play in our program. She just does it all. She's played shortstop, catcher, pitcher, outfield, you name it. She's old school."

Right from the get go, Henderson, who played varsity for four seasons, made her presence felt in the Havre softball program. As a freshman, she fought her way onto the field right away and proceeded to earn Central A All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a shortstop. Then as a sophomore, Henderson switched to catcher out of necessity and shined there as well, earning Second-Team All-Conference honors and setting the stage for a bright future.

"My dad got me into (softball) and it really wasn't my favorite," Henderson said. "But I got better and better over time and eventually I took more of a liking to it. And I stayed with it and now I'm here."

Where Henderson sits now is among the best players to ever step foot on a softball diamond in an HHS uniform. But, like many great athletes, she cares more about the success of her team than about her own achievements as an individual, which is why she's never shied away from swapping positions.

"It's great to have a player as talented as her that is willing to do those things for the team," Evans said. "You never had to worry about asking to her to play a different position. This year, we needed her to step up and pitch for us and she did a great job."

During her junior year, Henderson moved back to her natural position of shortstop and had her best season to date. Not only did she help Havre reach the Class A state tournament for the first time in her career, she also made her way onto the Central A All-Conference team, as well as the Class A All-State team, solidifying her status as one of the top players in the state of Montana.

"As a junior, she was probably our best catcher," Evans said. "But we needed her at shortstop, so she moved there and she was just happy to play. Wherever we could use her, she was happy to play there."

"I never really cared about what position I played," Henderson said. "I loved playing shortstop, I love being in the outfield, I love being a catcher. I just always wanted to play and it didn't really matter to me where it was at."

Now as a senior, Henderson has taken her game to a completely different level. Last season, when she earned All-State honors, she was a standout hitter which, along with her stellar defense, made her such an outstanding overall player. She even managed to hit a pair of home runs. Yet, this season, Henderson has gotten even better, particularly in the batter's box.

At times, it seems Henderson is nearly impossible to get out and even when she does, she rarely makes it easy on the defense and hardly if ever strikes out. She has hit the ball so well that her batting average has hovered around .500 all season and to date, she's hit an incredible 10 home runs. That production has helped propel Havre to a 11-9 record and the No. 2 seed going into the Central A divisional tournament this Friday and Saturday in Lewistown.

"There is nothing quite like getting on base or getting a hit," Henderson said. "That's how you win ball games. Hitting a home run feels good, too. It doesn't even feel like it should go over the fence. It's just a nice, easy swing but it makes it go."

Yet, Henderson has not turned in a power-hitting machine by accident. It's taken hard work, dedication and a competitive drive to continually be better, something Henderson has in abundance.

"She has really worked hard at it," Evans said. "We were working with her on being more patient at the plate, and she taught herself to stay away from bad pitches and turned herself into a power hitter.

"She's probably the best hitter overall that we have ever had," he added. "With the home runs and the average she's had this season. She's just a great player and she's been one of the better players that we have had in our program."

However, Henderson, who has signed on to play softball at the junior college level for Shasta College in Redding, California next season, doesn't worry too much about records or personal achievements. Her main goal right now is getting back her team to the state tournament and helping the Ponies compete for a state championship.

"That is my main goal in life right now," Henderson said. "I don't even care if I graduate. I just want to make it back to state and do well. It would be awesome it we could make it into the chipper and face whoever is good enough to make it there."