Knights send North Stars home

The Havre North Stars fought hard. But in the end, they just didn’t have quite enough pitching, or hitting, to get over the hump.

The North Stars saw their 2014 American Legion baseball season come to an abrupt end Friday morning in Fort Macleod, Alberta, as they were eliminated from the Northern A District Tournament by the Medicine Hat Knights. The Knights defeated the North Stars 6-5, one day after Havre lost to Vauxhall in the opening round.

Like they did against the Spurs, the North Stars scored early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. But Medicine Hat went ahead 2-1 after three innings, and while Havre moved back in front, thanks to a huge performance by first basemen David Denny, the North Stars couldn’t quite hold on. Havre, and starting pitcher Dylan Carpenter, were fighting hard, but a three-run fifth inning put the Knights up 5-2. Havre closed the gap with two runs in the seventh inning, but the Knights led 6-4 going to the top of the ninth. The North Stars threatened to extend the game, plating one more run, but the Knights secured the outs to avoid going to a final half of the ninth, ending the North Stars’ season in the process.

Carpenter went the distance for the North Stars, and did well. He allowed 13 hits, but only let the Knights score six runs, while striking out three. Havre was also strong at the plate, totaling 10 hits, with Denny going 4-for-4 with four doubles and four runs batted in, in what was his final game in a Havre uniform. Jake Sedahl and Jeff Miller added two hits each, while Spencer Ross and Ryne Antley each had one. But in the end, Havre didn’t score enough runs and left nine runners on base, one day after the North Stars left 18 on base against Vauxhall.

The North Stars ended their season with a record of 18-26.

Medicine Hat 6, North Stars 5

Havre 100 100 201 – 5 10 5

Medicine Hat 002 031 00X – 6 13 2

WP – Loran, LP – Dylan Carpenter

Havre – Travis Roth 0-5, Spencer Ross 1-4, Jake Sedahl 2-5, David Denny 4-4 (4 RBI), Jeff Miller 2-5 (RBI), Chris Vukasin 0-4, Chance Pitkanen 0-4, Gavin Gunderson 0-4, Ryne Antley 1-4.

Medicine Hat – Welford 2-5, Geiger 3-5, McCurdy 0-5, Ropcean 1-4, Futrell 3-4, Stark 1-5, Macdonnell 3-5, Rayner 0-2, Clark 0-3, Andres 0-4.