Havre softball returns with conference doubleheader

While it is spring on the Hi-Line, you would not have been able to tell last week. Snow over the latter half of last week resulted in the Havre High softball team postponing its games. Now, the Blue Ponies can finally get back on the diamond with a pair of conference games in Lewistown today.

"We're ready to get back on the field," HHS head coach Tony Vigliotti said. "They're important conference games for us, and we've had a great couple of weeks of practice so I expect us to go out and play well."

The Ponies will start the day with a game against Glendive at 3 p.m. The Ponies were set to play a doubleheader against the Red Devils last Thursday at home, but weather forced a postponement. Now, the Ponies will have to play one game against a conference foe at a neutral field.

Last season, the Ponies got the better of the Devils with a sweep. Early in the season, the Ponies defeated the Devils, 11-1, at home. Later in the season, Havre held on for a 3-1 win over Glendive on the road. Since the Devils played well to end last year, Vigliotti expects that to carry over to this season.

"They played really well at the divisional tournament last year and got themselves to the state tournament," Vigliotti said. "It'll be a challenge for us so we're going to have to play well."

The Ponies wrap up today with a game against Sidney at 5 p.m. The Ponies played well against the Eagles last season with a sweep during the regular season. The Ponies got their bats going for a 19-7 win over Sidney at home. The Ponies then won, 14-0, against the Eagles on the road. The Eagles should be more experienced, so Vigliotti expects them to play better this spring.

"They were young last year so they've got some kids coming back," Vigliotti said. "It'll be a good test for us playing back-to-back conference games."

Havre enters today with a 3-4 record and a 3-0 mark in Northeast A competition. The Ponies' offense started the season strong averaging 18.7 runs a game to race out to a 3-0 start in conference play. Along the way, the Ponies dominated Miles City in a doubleheader and then the defending divisional champions Lewistown.

However, the Ponies stumbled their last time on the diamond. In a tournament in Lewistown earlier this month, the Ponies went 0-4 to fall below .500. After the rough weekend, the Ponies have focused on getting back on track so they will be ready for their return to conference play.

"We struggled a little bit so we kind of went back to the drawing board and we've been talking and working on a lot of little things defensively," Vigliotti said. "We're happy with the way we're swinging the bats but if we can do some of the little things and play defense, I think we'll be fine."

The Ponies have several players who can get them back on track. Avery Carlson has started four games at pitcher for Havre where she has recorded a 5.444 ERA and 17 strikeouts. At the plate, Carlson has a .474 batting average, a .600 on-base percentage and five RBIs.

Molly Huse will look to keep her strong start to the year going. At the plate, she has posted a .688 batting average, 14 RBIs and two home runs. Alyssa Oliver and Lizzi Haney each have a .500 batting average and have combined for 17 RBIs. As the Ponies get ready to get back on the diamond, Vigliotti believes their hitting will pick up where they left off.

"We're ready to get back out on the field and play a couple games," Vigliotti said. "We've been putting the ball in play pretty consistently, so I think for us, it will come down to the little things playing defense."

The Ponies will play Glendive today at 3 p.m. in Lewistown. The Ponies will then face Sidney tonight at 5 p.m. in Lewistown.