HAMILTON — The Maroons will have to do it the hard way.

Hours after upsetting defending champion Polson in the first round of the Class A Softball tournament, Butte Central fell 6-0 to Havre Thursday evening on Field No. 1 at the Hamilton Athletic Complex.

Central now heads to the consolation bracket, where it will take on Livingston at 11 a.m. Friday. (Bracket)

Elle Verploegen pitched the distance and stranded six base runners to get the victory. She worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the third inning.

Lizzi Haney walked, stole second and scored on a Molly Huse single to put the Blue Ponies up 1-0 in the first.

A Huse triple highlighted a three-run third inning for Havre. Jersi Morse added a two-run double for insurance in the sixth.

Hattie Thatcher, who took the loss in the pitcher’s circle, went 2 for 3 with a double to lead the Maroons. Hattie Mehring, Brenna Foley and Maggie Stimatz added singles. Jaeden Berger and Cloe Stillwagon worked walks.

Livingston fell in a 7-6 thriller with Lewistown in the first round. BC beat the Rangers 6-3 May 14 during the Maroons’ LaVerne Combo Invitational.

Butte Central            000      000      0 — 0   5   2
Havre                         103      002      x — 6   6   1
Sofee Thatcher and Mia Keeley; Elle Verploegen and Camille Keeley. W — Verploegen. L — Thatcher (9-4).
BUTTE CENTRAL (9-12) — Hattie Mehring 1-4, Thatcher 2-3, Brooke Badovinac 0-3, Keeley 0-3, Jaeden Berger 0-2, Brenna Foley 1-3, Renee Creekmore 0-3, Maggie Stimatz 1-3, Cloe Stillwagon 0-2.
HAVRE (14-7-1) — Avery Carlson 0-3, Lizzi Haney 0-2, Alyssa Oliver 1-3, Molly Huse 2-2, Hannah Gingery 1-3, Keeley 1-3, Jersi Morse 1-3, Keylee Kline 0-3, Danni Wirzberger 0-3.
3B — Huse. 2B — Thatcher; C. Keeley, Morse. RBIs — Huse 2, Oliver, Gingery, Morse.