Hot Sweep: North Stars take two at home

The offensive production by the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team hasn’t been a consistent strength this season, but it got the job done Monday.

Playing at Legion Field in Havre, the North Stars found a way to sweep the Tri-County Cardinals in two district games Monday evening. Game one went into extra innings, but the North Stars still managed a 7-6 win in nine innings. And in the nightcap, the North Stars finished off the Cardinals with an 11-7 victory in seven innings.

Tyrell Pierce and Gavin Gunderson were both huge in the North Star wins.

Pierce pitched the first game, and pitched a complete game for the North Stars. He did allow six runs, but just four were earned, as he walked seven and struck out a whopping 10. Pierce gave up just nine hits. Gunderson had a great outing of his own, as he allowed seven runs in his complete game win in game two. Gunderson allowed 12 hits, but walked just two, and struck out another two. More importantly, both pitchers went the distance, something the North Stars need out of their pitching staff this season.

“Coach (Tony) Vigliotti has done a great job with our pitchers,” Head coach Danny Wirtzberger said. “Tyrell Pierce is 4-1 in his last five starts, and Gavin Gunderson is 2-1 in his last three starts. They are both throwing very well right now, and that is a tribute to him (Vigiolotti), he has really worked with their pitches. But more importantly, he has worked with their sustainability, so they know how to work, when to work, and where to work. That is huge for us, we are not that deep with pitching.”

But the pitching staff also got some help from the offense.

The bats were awake early in Game 1, but they hit a lull until late in the ballgame. The North Stars held a 5-3 lead through five innings, but the Cardinals took over 6-5 in the sixth. Chris Vukasin drove in a run to tie the ballgame in the seventh, as the Tri-County second baseman couldn’t handle the ground ball. And after holding the Cardinals through the top half of the ninth, the offense came through again. With one out, Spencer Ross grabbed a base hit, followed by a Vukasin walk. Deionn Hammet ended the game with an RBI base hit, ousting the Cardinals 7-6.

Travis Roth was 4-of-5 with an RBI, while Thurman Holdsclaw was 3-for-4 for the North Stars. Pierce, Ross and Hammet had two hits each, while Pierce had three RBIs and Hammet had one. David Denny, Gunderson and Ryne Antley each had a hit as well to help lead the North Stars to a win.

In Game 2, the bats came alive again for Havre. But this time, a solid 4-0 lead quickly turned into an 11-7 win.

Havre led 4-0 through three innings, and 4-1 through four. But the Cardinals used three hits and three North Stars errors to take a 6-4 lead in the top of the fifth.

Earlier in the season, the North Stars may not have had the fire power to battle back, but as the season has progressed, so has their play.

Monday night, the North Stars battled right back, taking a 9-6 lead in the bottom of the fifth on five hits and two Tri-County errors. And Havre wasn’t done just yet, as they scored two security runs on two hits in the sixth

The second time around, Gunderson led the offense with three hits and an RBI, while Antley also grabbed two hits and three RBIs, while Denny had two hits and two RBIs as well. Holdsclaw, Roth and Vukasin also had one hit each, while Holdslcaw had one RBI, Gunderson had one RBI, Hammet had one RBI, Vukasin had one RBI, and Dustin Odegard had one RBI.

Roth has led the North Stars at the plate in recent weeks, and has seen his offense really come around this season.

“I am just trying to get on base.” Roth said. “I am starting to see the ball pretty well, and my stance is better now, and that is something that has helped a lot. (Moving forward), we need to keep advancing the runner, and we need to put the ball in play. We all need to just try and get on base any way we can.”

“We did great with our offensive output today,” Wirtzberger added, especially with runners on base. “Roth (leadoff batter) did a great job starting us off, but when I think back, I think if Denny, who had a lot of RBIs, and Hammet with a triple.”

Today the North Stars are taking on Medicine Hat in two more district games on the road.

Havre 7, Tri-County 6 (9 Inn)

Tri-County 210 003 000 – 6 9 1

Havre 212 000 101 – 7 16 2

WP – Tyrell Pierce; LP – Tubas

Tri-County – Tubas 2-4, Schmidt 2-4 2RBI, Wanner 1-4 RBI, Ashworth 1-4, Clark 1-4 RBI, Judish 1-4, Coen 0-4, Hawke 0-4, Tharp 1-3.

Havre – Thurman Holdsclaw 3-4, Travis Roth 4-5 RBI, Tyrell Pierce 2-5 3RBI, David Denny 1-3 RBI, Chris Pitkanen 0-1, Spencer Ross 2-4, Gavin Gunderson 1-4, Ryne Antley 1-4, Chris Vukasin 0-3, Deionn Hammet 2-5 RBI.

Havre 11, Tri-County 7

Tri-County 000 150 1 – 7 12 2

Havre 022 052 x – 11 10 1

WP – Gavin Gunderson; LP – Judish

Tri-County – Tubas 2-4, Schmidt 0-3, Warner 2-3 2 RBI, Ashworth 1-4, Clark 3-4 3RBI, Judish 2-4 RBI, Coen 1-4 RBI, Hawke 0-4, Tharp 0-3.

Havre – Thurman Holdsclaw 1-4 RBI, Travis Roth 1-3, Tyrell Pierce 0-3, David Denny 2-2 2RBI, Spencer Ross 0-3, Gavin Gunderson 3-4 RBI, Ryne Antley 2-4 3RBI, Dustin Odegard 0-3 RBI, Chris Vukasin 1-1 RBI.