Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Molly Huse, Havre High softball

This is the season she's been waiting for.

The Havre High softball team has had a solid season so far this spring with an undefeated mark in conference play. A key contributor for the Blue Ponies has been junior Molly Huse, who has excelled at the plate this season.

But the past two years had prevented Huse from getting on the field for the Ponies until this spring. The season of her freshman year was canceled because of COVID-19 and then she suffered a knee injury in the winter of 2020 that kept her out her sophomore softball season.

So she made sure to do her best to get back on the field and make the most of her time on the diamond.

"I made it a goal to work really hard so something like this would never happen again and it's paid off," Huse said. "I've been able to play with my friends again and be back on the court and on the field. I'm just really appreciative that I'm able to be back."

Huse has made the most of her return with great numbers at the plate. This spring, she leads the team with a .651 batting average, 33 RBIs and five home runs. Huse credits her work in the offseason as well as the support she receives for her the year she is having.

"Having really good coaches and having my teammates push me all the time," Huse said was the reason for her success. "We have a dugout that we work in during the winter so we're able to practice all of our skills. I think that's what helped a lot, being able to work in the offseason."

Huse' play has helped the Ponies reach a 10-6 record and an 8-0 mark in the Northeast A. As the Ponies get ready for the postseason beginning next week, Huse believes the Ponies are capable of making a deep run.

"We're looking forward to getting a trophy this year. It's been a goal the whole season and I think we're really close," Huse said. "I think with this group of girls, we're very good hitters and if we limit our fielding errors, I think we can do whatever we want."

After recovering from her injury, Huse has also gotten to play volleyball and basketball for the Ponies this year. That has given the opportunity to work with her mother, Stephanie Huse, who is the head coach for the volleyball team and assistant coach for the softball team. Not only has she gotten to spend more time with your mother, but Huse believes her mother has helped her become a better player in volleyball and softball.

"She's always been there to teach me and I really do appreciate it," Huse said. "Even when I go home, I can still ask her questions to get better."

Huse and the Ponies will wrap up the regular season with the Butte Central Invite this weekend. They will then begin divisionals in Miles City next week. Before the Ponies head into the final few weeks of their season, the Havre Daily News got the chance to ask Huse five questions.

HDN: What have you enjoyed about your return to the field this season?

Huse: "Making memories with my friends. When I was out, I felt like I was more of an observer so I couldn't really be around any of my friends but being back, I love being out there."

HDN: In your time away from the field, how did you keep yourself prepared for your eventual return?

Huse: "Every single day I was at physical therapy doing any exercise I could, trying to get back into it as much as I could because six months (out) is a long time when you play sports year round. I was very restless so every single day, I was at physical therapy trying to get better."

HDN: What is the hardest part about softball?

Huse: "I would say how individual it can be. Sometimes when you go up to bat, all the pressure is on you and if you mess up, all eyes are on you but having good teammates, it doesn't feel like you're to blame if something goes wrong."

HDN: What do you like to do in your free time?

Huse: "I like to spend time with my family. We have a lot of cousins out of town so we go visit them. Everyone in our family plays sports so if I'm not playing sports, I'm watching my cousins or my brothers play sports so that's how we bond."

HDN: What was it like to grow up in a sports family?

Huse: "I love it. It's really entertaining because we all get very competitive with each other. Sometimes it can get a little too competitive but it entertains you a lot and I love being able to watch my brothers play basketball and that's how we bonded growing up."