North Stars drop season openers

Baseball is back on the Hi-Line, and more specifically Havre, as the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team played a season-opening doubleheader over the weekend.

As the North Stars continue to try and climb out of the rebuilding stages under third-year head coach Danny Wirtzberger, Havre opened the season with an 0-2 road trip. Playing in Lewistown Sunday, the Redbirds defeated the North Stars 11-1 in game one, and again 6-5 in the nightcap. Hopefully, Havre can find the win column in its next outing, two Wednesday-night games against Northern District rival Great Falls Electrics in Havre.

Game one wasn’t what the North Stars were hoping for in a season opener, but they did come up with one run in the sixth inning to avoid a shutout loss. The one run came on seven hits, with Chris Vukasin and David Denny leading the way with two hits each. Gavin Gunderson, Ryne Antley, and Chance Pitkanen all had one hit each, while Pikanen had the single RBI for the North Stars.

Game two was a tighter matchup for the North Stars as they rallied for five runs on seven more hits.

And the second time around, Havre was able to get on the scoreboard prior to the final frame. The Redbirds did grab the 1-0 lead in the third inning, but the North Stars answered back for the 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. But the Redbirds also grabbed eight hits and utilized five North Star errors to edge Havre. The Redbirds retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth with three runs, but Havre would tie the game one final time, 5-5 with one run in the top of eighth. But the Redbirds had one more push left in them. Lewistown scored the game-winning run in the ninth inning.

After Tyrell Pierce suffered the loss in game one, Gunderson got the loss in game two. Pierce only pitched two innings, but behind early with three walks and two hits. Gunderson also pitched just three innings in relief, but lost the lead with four hits and three walks.

But the atbats were better in the nightcap loss, as Travis Roth was 2-for-5 and Pierce was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Gunderson, Denny, and Vukasin had one hit each. Pierce also showed some power, grabbing a double and a triple in the one-run loss.

"We had to get through our first game flutters," Wirtzberger said. "That was the first time we saw live pitching, and Lewistown has already played games, and already saw live pitching. It was good to get that dress rehearsal in the first game, then we really settled down and played well in the second game.

"We were ahead in the eighth inning that second game, and walked the ninth batter," he continued. "It was just unfortunate they came out with the win, but they are a good team, they are a team that has been at the state tournament the last five years, and will be there again because they host the tournament. They are a state contender, and for us to compete with them that late into a game, I think gave us a bunch of confidence going into playing Great Falls because they beat the Electrics twice already."

Havre will play Wednesday night at Legion Field in Havre, the North Stars home debut.

Lewistown 11, Havre North Stars 1

Havre 000 001 – 1 7 1

Lewistown 111 044 – 11 8 0

WP – Lee; LP – Tyrell Pierce

Havre – Travis Roth 0-3, Gavin Gunderson 1-3, Chris Vukasin 2-3, David Denny 2-3, Ryne Antley 1-2, Chance Pitkanen 1-3 RBI, Spencer Ross 0-0, Dylan Carpenter 0-1, Dan Miller 0-1, Jake Sedahl 0-2, Jeff Miller 0-2.

Lewistown – Halum 1-3, Knox 2-3 3RBIs, Bradley 0-2, Lee 2-4 RBI, Gallagher 0-3, Hartford 2-3, Davis 0-2, Schell 0-2, Westbrook 1-2 RBI.

Lewistown 6, Havre North Stars 5 10 innings

Havre 000 202 010 – 5 7 5

Lewistown 001 300 101 – 6 8 0

WP – Knox; LP – Gavin Gunderson

Havre – Travis Roth 2-5, Gavin Gunderson 1-4, Ryne Antley 0-3, David Denny 1-2 RBI, Chris Vukasin 1-2 2RBIs, Tyrell Pierce 2-4 2RBIs, Chance Pitkanen 0-4, Jeff Miller 0-1, Dylan Carpenter 0-3, Dylan Sedahl 0-4, Michael Loftus 0-2, Dan Miller 0-2.

Lewistown – Knox 1-5, Schell 0-4, Bradley 4-6 2RBIs, Lee 1-5, Gallagher 0-3, Hartford 0-4, Westbrook 1-5 RBI, Ayers 0-4, Henderson 1-3.