North Stars home to face rival Cardinals

After an action-packed Havre Jamboree, and two tough road games in Glasgow, it’s time for the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team to focus on conference play.

This evening, the North Stars will be at home for a Northern A District double-dip against the rival Tri-County Cardinals. Havre enters today’s games with a 7-8 overall record and a 2-2 record in district play.

The North Stars enter tonight’s games, which start at 5 at Legion Field, with some confidence coming off of last weekend’s jamboree. Havre won two games in its home tournament, then split a pair of road contests Monday in Glasgow. In league play so far, the younger North Stars have also held their own. Havre split its home doubleheader with the Great Falls Electrics and opened June with a home split against the Medicine Hat Knights.

And tonight, the North Stars should be heavily favored against an inexperienced Cardinal team. Tri-County has finished last in the Northern District the last two seasons, and boasts a fairly young squad again this summer. Still, when the North Stars and Cardinals hook for games, it’s always a tough series, and tonight should be no different.

Havre will likely rely on ace starter Tyrell Pierce in at least one outing, while the likes of Chris Vukasin, Gavin Gunderson, Jeff Miller and Ryne Antley could all see time on the mound tonight. Havre has the luxury of having the weekend off, so pitch counts won’t be an issue tonight.

But where the North Stars should do their most damage against the Cardinals is at the plate. Tri-County is short on pitchers, and Havre is starting to find a groove offensively. The North Stars have clobbered the Glasgow B team in games both Sunday and Monday, with everyone getting into the act at the plate. Pierce, Vukasin, Spencer Ross and David Denny are reliable in the middle of Havre’s batting order, while leadoff man Travis Roth is having a breakout summer. Rookie catcher Jake Sedahl is also starting to come on strong at the plate, while Chance Pitkanen got off to a strong start in the spring.

Today’s games are also important for the North Stars as mid-June approaches. Havre’s schedule is front-loaded with home games, which is good, but that means the North Stars and head coach Danny Wirtzberger are looking for sweeps in their home park, because for much of July, Havre will play a tough road schedule, loaded with conference games.

Tonight’s doubleheader between the North Stars and Tri-County starts at 5 at Legion Field. The North Stars are off over the weekend, but have a rematch with the Cardinals next Tuesday in Conrad. Havre follows that up with road games at the Great Falls Electrics next Wednesday.