A big Central A weekend for Pony fastpitch team

The Havre High softball team was supposed to have opened Central A conference play a couple of weeks ago, but because of weather and postponements, HHS won't open conference play until tonight, when the Blue Ponies will travel to Lewistown.

Because of the trip tonight to Lewistown, which will be followed by a doubleheader against Belgrade Friday in Havre, the Ponies will play three Central A games in two days, a critical stretch as Havre, Lewistown, Belgrade and Livingston all battle it out for seeding in the divisional tournament next month.

"The schedule kind of got messed up with the weather," HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said. "Now we have a lot of conference games in a short span. It's a lot of important games in a short span so we just have to go out and play our best and stay focused."

Tonight, the first pitch between the Ponies and Eagles will go out at 5 p.m. and senior Lauren Kato will take the mound for Havre against a Lewistown team that also made it to state last season and returns one of the Class A's top power hitters in Maci Mangold.

"I know they have the Mangold girl and she can really hit the ball well," Vigliotti said. "Their pitcher also threw a no-hitter against Billings Central last weekend, so it's going to be tough. I think we are pretty evenly matched with them just like last season. We just need to put the ball in play and also play the kind of defense that we are capable of."

With just six conference games, each one is important which makes it essential for the Ponies to find a way to get at least one victory over the three games, which won't be easy with Belgrade, the defending Class A state champions coming to the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field Friday. Taking a game off the Panthers is always difficult and that makes tonight's matchup with the Eagles even more important.

"Just like they have been, Belgrade is the team to beat," Vigliotti said. "But we have a chance to play with them, we just have to execute. We have to play good defense, be smart at the plate and take advantage when we get chances to score runs. If we can play good, fundamental softball, we can give ourselves a chance. You just can't afford to give up anything easy against a team like that."

While Kato will handle the pitching duties tonight, they will be shared Friday between Kato and Sam Oliver, who is also a key player for Havre in the field at shortstop and at the plate. However, when it comes to the Pony offense, no player is more important than Kinzee Peterson, an All-State slugger who is coming off a weekend that saw her smash five home runs in four games.

"She's a really tough out," Vigliotti said. "And we know when she gets up there, we know that she is going to make good contact most of the time. The top part of our lineup with Janae (Boles) and Sydney (Wilting) have done a good job of getting on base. Sam has done a good job of that, too, and they know when they get on base, there is a good chance Kinzee can drive them in."

After taking on Lewistown tonight, as well as Belgrade Friday (3 p.m. and 5 p.m.) the Ponies will host Lewistown for another Central A showdown Monday night. That will again be held at the Sixth Avenue Field and it will be a quick turnaround for HHS, especially the pitching staff.

"We are just going to get there this first game against Lewistown (Thursday) and see where things go," Vigliotti said. "In Sam and Lauren, we have two very different pitchers. So if they are getting used to one of them, we can give them a different look."

Havre travels to Lewistown tonight, with the first pitch going out at 5. The Ponies will also host Belgrade on Friday night at 3 and 5.