After eight straight losses and two cancelled games, the Havre High softball team finally righted the ship somewhat. On Tuesday afternoon, the weather cleared up enough for the Blue Ponies to make the trip to Glasgow to make up their game with the Class B Scotties — a game that was cancelled last Tuesday due to foul weather. Havre also had its game with Browning last Saturday cancelled because of inclement weather meaning on Tuesday, the Ponies hadn't taken the field in nine days. Still, HHS looked sharp in a 6-4 win over the Scotties on Tuesday, especially senior pitcher Steph Stremcha, who gave the Ponies a solid outing on the mound. Stremcha pitched six strong innings for HHS, yielding just three runs before Karly Evans came in for the save in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Scotties did pick up a run on two hits in the seventh, but it wasn't enough to overcome Havre's early lead. The Ponies scored a run in the top of the first inning, and a threerun fifth inning turned out to be the difference in the game. Havre also tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, which allowed Stremcha and Evans some breathing room and the ability to put the Scotties away. At the dish, Havre's Samantha Mack continued her strong season, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Evans was also 2-for-4 for the Blue Ponies, who improved to 2-8 on the season. Glasgow, which did manage 10 hits on the day, got a 4-for-4 performance K e l s e y A r c h ambeault, who was also the losing pitcher on Tu e s d a y. The Scotties also got three hits form Shelby Fossum in the loss. The Scotties were also victimized by four errors, while HHS's defense committed just two on the day. Havre will have the rest of the week off, before returning to the diamond on May 1 to make up its cancelled game with Browning. The Ponies will also host the Havre Invitational on May 2-3.
Fast-pitching Lady Indians host Havre, play Whitefish
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 2:03 PM MDT
The Browning Lady Indians softball team hosted Havre Thursday, May 1, to a varsity-JV doubleheader. Havre won the varsity game, 14-4. Browning played well for the first four innings but fell apart in the fifth, allowing eight Havre runs. Six of those runs were unearned. The defense committed nine errors in the game, five of which were in the fifth inning. Offensively, the Lady Indians hit the ball well but only managed to get four hits through the Havre defense. The girls also struggled with base running in the game as their were a few opportunities to score runs from third, and the girls did not go when told to or waited too long and were thrown out at home. Corrina Gervais led the hitting with a single and a double. MaKenzie Wellman hit a triple, and Sheylin McKay had a single for the other two Browning hits.
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| Tiffany Sinclair backs up Corrina Gervais as she makes the tag on a Havre runner during last week's varsity-JV double header in Browning. Photo by John McGill |
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Havre also won the JV game, 19-2. It had been two weeks since the JVs had a game and it showed as Browning struggled in all aspects of the game. The defense committed 11 errors, and the pitching allowed 10 walks that led to 10 of Havre's runs. Offensively the Lady Indians did hit the ball but, as in the varsity game, couldn't get enough of them through the Havre defense. Shanelle Skunkcap led the hitting with a double. Sarah Horn and Katie Lahr both singled in the contest.
The Lady Indians traveled to Whitefish for a varsity-JV double header Friday, May 2. Whitefish won the varsity game, 10-0. Browning played its best game defensively of the year, but Whitefish hit the ball well and had five doubles in the game. The defense had four errors in the game, but only two of them led to Whitefish scores. The Whitefish pitcher struck out 16 Browning hitters three weeks ago when the teams played. The Lady Indians lowered that to five in this contest, so they put the ball in play but only managed to get three hits through the Whitefish defense. Corrina Gervais, Shanelle Skunkcap and Sarah Wolftail all singled in the contest.
The JVs played much better than they did the night before but came up on the short end of the score and lost, 11-8. Ashlynn Fish pitched very well, striking out 11 Whitefish hitters. The defense committed eight errors in the game, which led to six Whitefish runs. The Lady Indians hit the ball well, collecting eight hits in the game. Paula Bremner led the hitting with two singles. Sarah Horn doubled in the game while Destini Ell, Shanelle Skunkcap, MiLynn Lazy Boy, Ahslynn Fish and Jazz St. Goddard all singled in the contest. The game was called after the sixth inning because of time limits.
The Lady Indians are practicing well but need to transfer that to the games. Most of the girls have been playing softball for a year or less, and their inexperience shows up as nervousness in games. Routine plays that are made every day in practice turn into errors in the games. As the girls get more confident in their abilities they will become more relaxed in game situations and start making the plays they make every day in practice in the games.
The team will travel to Butte for the Butte Invitational Tournament Friday and Saturday, May 9-10. As of now Browning will play Livingston and Hardin Friday, and Belgrade and Deer Lodge Saturday. There will be 24 teams at the tournament so there will be a lot of softball in Butte this weekend.
Lady Indian diamond dwellers drop two at Frenchtown
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:43 PM MDT
The Browning Lady Indians softball team played a varsity double header at the Frenchtown Invitational Tournament last Friday afternoon. The team played Frenchtown in their first contest and lost the game, 20-13. The team played well except for the fourth inning where Frenchtown tallied 14 of their 20 runs. Alyssa Hodson pitched well, striking out eight Lady Bronc hitters. The defense committed 11 errors with seven of those coming in the fourth inning. Offensively, the Lady Indians hit the ball well but only managed one hit. Sheylin McKay singled for the team's one hit. Browning was patient at the plate as the Frenchtown pitcher struggled and received 17 walks that led to the 13 runs. The game ended after the fifth inning because of time limits during the tournament.
The Lady Indians played Stevensville in their second game at the tournament. The team again struggled with staying mentally tough for two games and lost, 16-2. Stevensville hit the ball well but was helped by eight Lady Indian errors. The team did settle down and played well in the last two innings, allowing only one run. Browning hit the ball well in the game, but Stevensville's defense handled all but three of those hits. Corrina Gervais and Sheylin McKay both doubled in the game for the Lady Indians. Tiffany Sinclair singled for the other Browning hit.
The Lady Indians were only able to get outside for one practice last week because of the weather, and many of the girls were absent for that practice so they could get their Prom dresses. Considering those facts and the fact that during the games the wind blew, and it snowed, rained or hailed most of the time, the coaches were pleased that the team played more positive innings than negative. Browning will play host to Havre on Thursday, May 1, for a varsity-JV double header starting at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. On Friday, May 2, Browning will travel to Whitefish for a varsity-JV double header starting at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
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