Havre High softball ready to begin new season

As the temperature warms up on the Hi-Line, it's time to get back outdoors and enjoy some time on the softball diamond. The Havre High softball team is ready to get back out there as they are getting set to begin their spring season. After the Blue Ponies qualified for the state tournament last season, HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti looks forward to a new year with his returning players.

"We've got a good group coming back," Vigliotti said. "I like our junior group and our senior group. We're going to have some younger girls step up but they're ready and we want to get back to the state tournament so our expectations are high."

The Ponies look to build off last season where they went 15-6-1, they went 7-1 in conference play and they finished second in the Northeast A Divisionals to qualify for the state tournament. While the Ponies have some holes to fill, they return several players from that team.

Avery Carlson returns for her junior season after pitching and batting for the Ponies last year. Vigliotti also expects fellow juniors Danni Wirtzberger, Lizzi Haney and Molly Huse to make an impact with the experience they gained from last year. The Ponies will also need to rely on their senior class of Alyssa Oliver and Keylee Kline this season. With more experience under their belt, Vigliotti believes these players can make another step forward this season.

"Just some experience," Vigliotti said was the biggest difference from last year. "That sophomore group and the junior group last year got a lot of experience so I think that's going to benefit us this year."

Havre also has some newcomers that could make an impact this year. Sophomore Elle Verploegen should put in some time in the outfield, at first base and hopefully on the mound. Freshman Camille Keeley is set to play in the outfield and should get some time at catcher. The rest of the roster is filled out by junior Hannah Gingery and sophomores Jersi Morse and Taylor Ball.

As they head into the season, Vigliotti feels good in the obvious areas of the game such as pitching and hitting. However, he believes the Ponies will be at their most dangerous when they get runners on base.

"We're fast. We run the bases well," Vigliotti said. "Probably our biggest asset is going to be our speed on the bases. If we can get people on the base paths, we're going to run the bases well."

The Ponies will need to excel on the bases over the course of their season. They begin the year next weekend on the road at Miles City. The Ponies will then hold their home opener at Sixth Avenue Memorial Field April 5 against Northeast A champion Lewistown. They will then head to Lewistown for a tournament.

Havre then returns home for a conference game against Glendive April 15. They then head on the road for a conference game against Sidney. The Ponies then close out April with a tournament in Frenchtown.

The Ponies open May with a road game against Lewistown before returning to Havre for their home finale against Sidney. The Ponies then close the regular season with the Butte Invite. The divisional tournament will begin in Miles City May 20 and the state tournament will begin May 26 in Hamilton. As he looks at the schedule, Vigliotti believes it is set up nicely to allow the Ponies to grow through the year to begin peaking at the right time.

"We just want to get better each week," Vigliotti said. "I like our schedule. It should put us in a position where come divisional tournament time and state tournament time we'll be ready to go."

As they have been getting ready for this upcoming season, the Ponies have taken advantage of the warmer weather to get reps outside instead of the gym. With more time already spent on the diamond, Vigliotti believes it will help the Ponies before their first pitch this season.

"What's been great so far is that we've been outside every day of practice and that hasn't happened in my five years," Vigliotti said. "Being outside and being able to evaluate without being in the gym has been a pleasant surprise."

The HHS softball team begins the year April 2 with a game on the road against Miles City. The Ponies' home opener at Sixth Avenue Memorial Field will take place April 5 against Lewistown.