North Stars turn attention to conference foes

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team has a busy weekend ahead of it, but before four conference games at home this weekend, the North Stars played host to the Great Falls Outlaws Tuesday night at Legion Field.

It was a hard-fought game between the two non-conference foes, but thanks to a six-run first inning, the Outlaws ended up outlasting the North Stars 10-5. Yet, in spite of the loss, North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy came away pleased with his team's effort, especially considering his use of his younger players.

"That's what games like tonight's game are for," Fuzesy said. "It's a non-conference game so it doesn't really hurt us to lose. But, it gave us a chance to play some young kids and try some kids out at new spots and that experience ends up being really valuable. You can practice and practice different situations, but it's just not the same as getting that game experience and some of younger guys need that."

The Outlaws opened the game on fire at the plate and built up a six-run lead after the top of the first inning. Yet, the North Stars responded in the bottom half of the inning, when Travis Roth doubled and Jake Sedahl brought him home with an RBI single.

Then, in the bottom of the second inning, the North Stars inched even closer with a pair of runs. Havre started the inning with singles from Trey Murphy and Dylan Carpenter before Roth, in his second at-bat, ripped a double to center field to plate two runs and trim the Outlaws' lead to 6-3.

By the bottom of the seventh inning, the Outlaws had pushed their lead to 8-3, but the North Stars got their bats going and thanks to an RBI double by Roth and an RBI single by Sedahl, Havre was within three runs at 8-5.

Unfortunately, the North Stars stranded a couple runners to close the seventh inning and were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, the Outlaws added a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, which helped lock up the 10-5 victory.

"We had some good performances," Fuzesy said. "He had a great game hitting the ball. He had a couple of doubles and I think we might have been able to get a triple out of him. Jake also had a great game hitting the ball and did well in the outfield. So I thought there were some positive things that came out of it."

Branden Danielson started the game and surrendered eight runs in his five innings of work. Antley finished the game strongly, pitching four innings and giving up just two earned runs. Offensively, Roth had a big game for Havre as he went 2-for-5 at the plate, with two doubles and three RBIs. Antley also had a stellar outing for Havre going 4-for-4 and also drawing a walk. Sedahl added had three hits and an RBI and reached safely on four of five at bats.

"I was really happy with the way Brendan and Ryne both pitched," Fuzesy said. "And I thought that Carpenter did a good job catching. We got to try Trey at third and Tyrell (Pierce) at second, so that's what these games are for and I was happy with our effort."

While the North Stars would have liked a victory Tuesday night, the real important games will come this weekend, when Havre will host Fort Macleod and Medicine Hat on Saturday and Sunday in back-to-back conference doubleheaders.

The North Stars are currently 5-9-1 overall, but are 2-2 in Northern A district play and with four very winnable games on deck starting with a doubleheader against Fort Macleod Saturday at 5 p.m., the chance to make a move up the standings is real.

"Right now we are sitting OK at 2-2," Fuzesy said. "But if we could three or four games this weekend and get to 6-2 or 5-3, we would be sitting pretty good. I feel like we have a good chance against Fort Macleod to get a couple wins after watching them play at our jamboree. But, those kids are tough and they are a scrappy team so you never know."

If the North Stars can manage to get a sweep of Fort Macleod, it would set up an important two-game showdown Sunday with Medicine Hat, which is one of the better teams in the Northern A district. Havre and Medicine Hat already split a pair of games in Canada earlier this season, so a sweep of the series would give the North Stars an important leg up in the district standings.

Fuzesy said that he plans to start Jeff Miller in the opening game against Fort Macleod and then he also expects to use Carpenter, Tyrell Pierce and either Branden Danielson or Ryne Antley in the fourth game. Jerod Boles may also see time on the mound.

The North Stars tilt against Fort Macleod Saturday begins at 5 p.m., and first pitch for Sunday's game against Medicine Hat is at 1 p.m. Both games will take place at Legion Field.

Great Falls Outlaws 10, Havre North Stars 5

Great Falls 600 200 102 - 10 16 4

Havre 120 000 200 - 5 15 5

Havre - Dylan Carpenter 1-3, Tanner Hentschel 1-2, Travis Roth 2-5, Jake Sedahl 2-4, Ryne Antley 4-4, Jeff Miller 1-4, Tyrell Pierce 0-2, TJ Lovenguth 0-3, Trey Murphy 1-1, Jerod Boles 1-2, Kyle Gooch 1-2, Nic Tanner 0-2, Branden Danielson 1-1, Cole Keller 0-2.