North Stars split with Redbirds

The Havre American Legion baseball team got its season off to an interesting start, to say the last. On Sunday in Lewistown, the North Stars split their season- opening doubleheader with the Lewistown Redbirds. The Redbirds captured game one in a slugfest, 17-14, but Havre rebounded, shutting down the Lewistown offense in the second game, and winning 9-5. "Overall, today's performance showed what is expected out of a season opener, a little sluggish defensively, higher pitch counts, and two long games," Havre head coach Steve Fanning said. "But, the team exceeded my expectations in many areas. Offensively we hit the ball better than expected. We had some guys come up with some big hits in key situations and there were some very quality at bats, working the count and being productive. I was happy with our pitching effort, as well as some of our defensive plays. We as a team know what we need to work on to progress through the season." Havre was pitching by committee on opening day. In game one, Gareth Bernard started and Roman Surber and Mark Vukasin also took the mound. Havre led 13-5 after five innings, but the Redbirds exploded in the sixth, rallying for 11 runs on nine hits to take the lead for good. Offensively, the North Stars were led by C.J. Evans (4-5, 3 RBIs), Justin Jensen, ((3-4, RBI, 2B), Bernard (3-4, 2 RBIs, 2B), and Jon Currie (2-4, RBI). Jensen got the nod in game two for the North Stars and gave up four runs early. But he settled in and pitched two scoreless innings before handing the ball to Kyle Miller, who held Lewistown to just one run in three innings of work. Havre's bats also got off to a big start in game two. Miller, Jensen and Bernard had backto- back scoring doubles as the North Stars scored seven runs in the first two innings and never looked back. Offensively, the North Stars were led in game two by Miller (2-3, 2B, RBI), Jensen (1-4, 2B 2 RBI), Bernard, (2-3, RBI), and Evans, (1-3, 2 Runs scored) Justin Denny also had a two- RBI single to help the cause. In both games, Fanning was looking to keep the pitch counts down for all his pitchers, easing them in to the season. The North Stars (1-1) will now prepare for their homeopener this Sunday. Havre will host the newly formed, Class AA Great Falls Chargers in a doubleheader on Sunday at Legion Field. The games against the Chargers are slated to begin at 1 p.m.