Makenzie Henthorn looks to boost Montana softball program

Before the 2A softball state title game, Mark Morris' Makenzie Henthorn was throwing up due to dehydration while trying to hide the fact from her coach.

There was nothing keeping the Monarchs' ace from pitching in that game.

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"I was pissed off that I was feeling like that," she said. "I've been looking forward to that game for years now, so I was not gonna let a little bit of puke push me back."

The contest didn't start out great for Henthorn as her team was down 4-0 after she gave away three straight home runs. However, she only surrendered 1 more run during the rest of the game and posted shutouts in the final two innings to help the Monarchs win the state championship.

Mark Morris softball: Makenzie Henthorn

Mark Morris' Makenzie Henthorn throws a pitch during the 2A State Fastpitch Softball Tournament championship game against W.F. West on Saturday, May 23, at Carlon Park in Selah. Henthorn was suffering from dehydration prior to the contest, but willed the Monarchs to victory, showing her strong determination that has led her to the Division I level.

"I was 1 more run from pulling her out of the game," Mark Morris coach Chris Mejia said. "Finishing that game as strong as she did, that was crazy."

It's that kind of determination and resolve that has helped Henthorn reach the next level. After graduating from Mark Morris on Saturday, she now enters into a new chapter of her life: playing Division I softball at the University of Montana.

'It would kill me not to play'

The back-to-back 2A Greater St. Helens League MVP will be part of a huge rebuild for the Grizzlies program, which hasn't had a winning season since 2017. That is a far cry from what Henthorn's teams have been able to do as the Monarchs only lost three games and went undefeated in league play during the past two seasons.

However, Henthorn noted that Montana coach Stef Ewing has a knack for turning the tides around. She led Division II Cal State San Marcos to the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular season championship in 2022 after the program placed last in 2018 prior to her arrival as coach.

Ewing is on the path to repeating that feat as the Grizzlies finished in last place in the Big sky during her first year as coach in 2025, but placed in a three-way tie for second in 2026. However, the Grizzlies still finished 22-32 overall.

"I think about it as how I came into Mark Morris," Henthorn said. "It wasn't a program on the map when I first got here. We turned it into a program that was dominant. It was very cool to create history and be part of that."

Henthorn said that Ewing told her she'll be a big part of that turnaround and will have the chance to play right away as a freshman, which was a big factor for her.

"When I was going through recruiting, I wanted to make sure that I played," she said. "It would kill me not to play."

Mark Morris softball: Makenzie Henthorn

Mark Morris' Makenzie Henthorn throws a pitch during a softball game against Columbia River on Wednesday, May 6, at the Salmon Creek Sports Association Complex in Vancouver. Henthorn said she will have the opportunity to play right away as a freshman at the University of Montana.

Playing Henthorn early would be a wise choice for the Grizzlies. This season, she struck out 267 batters and gave away only 34 hits and 10 earned runs in 125 1/3 innings, finishing the season with an astounding 0.56 ERA. She did not surrender any earned runs in league play and led the Monarchs to 16-straight shutouts. Henthorn also recorded 25 hits and 28 RBIs with six doubles, two triples, and five home runs at the plate this year.

"I felt like she was throwing even harder this year than she was last year," Mejia said. "I can't wait to see what she does as Montana. She just has that mentality. She's gonna turn the program around."

Henthorn will get the chance during the summer to play against other Division I athletes with USA Explosion, a club team based in Idaho. She will compete in multiple high-profile tournaments before moving to Missoula, Montana for school in August.

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"It's good practice for what I'll be seeing in college," Henthorn said. "It's all invite only, so they are highly competitive tournaments."

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 4:23 AM.