North Stars drop two in Canada

After getting rained out Monday, the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team got back on track Tuesday.

Continuing the Canadian road trip, the North Stars faced the district rival Fort MacLeod Royals in doubleheader action. The Royals took both games away from the North Stars, including a narrow 6-4 win in Game 1, and a more dominating, 12-5 win in Game 2.

There wasn’t a lot of offense in the first game, but Havre did get on the board first, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning. But the Royals out-produced the North Stars with six runs of their own in the second inning, taking a 6-4 lead that would last the remainder of the matchup.

Gavin Gunderson suffered the loss on the mound, giving up 11 hits, while also walking three. Fort MacLeod also committed four errors, while the North Stars scored their four runs on eight hits. Gunderson had one hit, while David Denny, Dustin Odegard, and Spencer Ross also had one hit each; Ryne Antley and Chris Vukasin both went 2-for-4. Antley also had two RBIs.

In the nightcap, the ballgame started out tight, but the Royals broke free down the stretch.

The Royals held a 4-1 lead through three innings, but the North Stars took a 5-4 lead in the top half of the fourth. But the Royals grabbed two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, reclaiming the lead at 6-5, and gaining all of the momentum moving forward. Fort MacLeod posted six more runs in the fifth inning to widen the gap and take the win.

Vukasin started on the mound for the North Stars, but pitched just two innings before being relieved by Denny. Denny suffered the loss after the North Stars were able to retake the lead in the fourth. Havre grabbed eight hits, while the Royals racked up 19. The North Stars also committed two errors.

Leading the bats, Denny went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Thurman Holdsclaw went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Travis Roth, Gunderson, Ross, and Vukasin all had one hit each. Gunderson also had one RBI.

The North Stars will make up games with Tri-County, but will also host Vauxhall in a district doubleheader on Tuesday at Legion Field in Havre.

Fort MacLeod 6, Havre 4

North Stars 400 000 0 – 4 8 0

Royals 060 000 x -6 11 4

WP – Cook; LP – Gavin Gunderson

North Stars – Travis Roth 0-4, Gavin Gunderson 1-4, Thurman Holdsclaw 0-3, David Denny 1-2, Spencer Ross 1-4, Ryne Antley 2-4 2RBIs, Chris Vukasin 2-4, Deionn Hammet 0-3, Dustin Odegard 1-2.

Fort MacLeod – Burden 1-4, Cook 1-4, Gudria 1-4 2RBIs, Shepperd 1-2, Foster 2-3, Kidd 2-3, Ondnia 1-2, Torquist 1-3 RBI, Jensen 1-2 2RBIs.

Fort MacLeod 12, Havre 5

North Stars 100 400 0 – 5 8 2

Royals 103 260 x – 12 19 0

WP – Shepperd; LP – David Denny

North Stars – Travis Roth 1-3, Gavin Gunderson 1-3, Thurman Holdsclaw 2-4 2RBIs, David Denny 2-3 2RBIs, Spencer Ross 1-2, Chris Pitkanen 0-4, Ryne Antley 0-2, Kyle Gooch 0-1, Deionn Hammet 0-2, Dustin Odegard 0-1, Chris Vukasin 1-3.

Fort MacLeod – Burden 2-5 2RBIs, Cook 2-4, Gudria 2-3, Tirgia 0-1, Shepperd 3-3 3RBI, Atwood 2-4 4RBIs, Kidd 2-4 RBI, Foster 4-4, Ondnia 1-3, Gudrua 0-1, Shepperd 1-3 RBI.