Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Havre's David Denny has always been a baseball player

Over the years, chances are David Denny could be found on either the baseball diamond, or the golf course.

Denny has been a steady participant and athlete in Havre, making a lot of noise on the Havre High Blue Pony golf team, and in Havre youth, and American Legion baseball. And as a recent graduate from Havre High, Denny has already finished his prep golf career, and now nears the end of his baseball career.

As a sophomore, junior, and senior, Denny was on the HHS golf team. He also played one season of tennis as a freshman. But baseball has been Denny’s true love, and since the age of just three years old, Denny has been a baseball player. His career started in T-Ball, but is winding down as the Havre North Stars’ first baseman.

Denny has grown into a veteran North Star and has helped take on a leadership role on a very young 2013 team. Denny is the primary first baseman, but also sees action on the mound from time to time. And playing a crucial role with the North Stars this season, the success the North Stars have this postseason will depend on how well a young team performs under his leadership and that of the veterans like Denny.

Here are five questions with Denny as the North Stars prepare to close out the regular season Friday.

HDN: What is the toughest thing about playing first base?

Denny: “You have to be involved in the game all the time. And you have to be a team leader, especially this year, with us being such a young team.”

HDN: Would you rather hit a grand slam in baseball, or a hole-in-one in golf?

Denny: “That is a really tough question. You have so long to hit a grand slam, but that is still a tough question. But I would say grand slam, I would have to say grand slam, your time is limited to do that.”

HDN: Is it tougher playing early season games in the freezing cold, or late season games in the scorching heat?

Denny: “Early in the season I think. We are still rusty, and still getting in a groove, and the cold doesn’t help that much. It is tough to keep your head up when you are freezing, but you still have to play hard, and play well, and try to make plays.”

HDN: How does the team pass the time on long road trips?

Denny: “We play 31 (card game) all the time. We also play a lot of music, and just come up with road trip games. We just play a lot of cards and play a lot of games to pass the time.”

HDN: What are the chances this team makes a solid run this postseason?

Denny: “We are still young, but I think we can still do something positive this year, we can still accomplish something. We have to play consistent, and the main thing, keep our heads up. We have to be positive all the time, and can’t get down on other teammates. When you get after a teammate, it just doesn’t help us at all. Mistakes are magnified, and after one, it can turn into two or three mistakes, then 10 runs. We have to stay positive.”