In dramatic fashion, the Havre Blue Ponies softball team won the Eastern “A” Divisional Championship game today against Billings Central Catholic by the final score of (3-2).
The Rams struck first for 2 runs in the bottom of the first, courtesy of a 2-run single by Brook Thompson. The next 5 innings were a pitchers duel between Central’s Gianna Haney and Havre’s Elle Verpoloegen.
Neither pitcher budged in allowing a run and both pitched complete games. Haney ended up striking out 11 Blue Ponies and taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning, while Verpoloegen had six strikeouts on the day.
The top of the 7th inning is where things got really interesting for the game. Molly Huse hit a solo home run on the first pitch she saw. Then the next two batters reached on a single and error, respectfully before Verpoloegen pushed a sacrifice bunt to score the tying run. With Kamree Oliver at the plate, she hit a grounder that first baseman Madge Prill could not come up with, allowing Addy Olson to score the go-ahead run.
The Rams tried to come back in the bottom of the inning, getting the tying and winning runs on base, but Verpoloegen and her teammates stayed calm as they got the final out to clinch the Eastern “A” Divisional Championship.
With this result, Havre advances to the state tournament, which is set to begin in Belgrade on Thursday, May 25th.
