Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Dylan Carpenter, Havre North Stars Baseball

In case you haven't noticed, the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team has been on a bit of a roll lately. And while there are many reasons behind the team's recent success, one of the biggest has been the pitching of Dylan Carpenter.

At the start of the 2015 season, North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy said that he believed the strength of his team was its pitching and defense. And now as the season winds down, that statement is looking prophetic, particularly with the impressive season Carpenter is putting together.

While Fuzesy has a slew of talented arms at his disposal, no one on the North Stars gets the ball more than Carpenter. In fact, it's not even close. Through 37 games, Carpenter has made 16 appearances, which is seven more than any other Havre pitcher. He also leads the team in starts with nine and innings pitched with 77. The next closet pitcher in terms of innings pitched is Tyrell Pierce with 51.

Yet, with Carpenter there hasn't just been quantity, there has been quality as well. Despite throwing more innings than any other pitcher, the second-year North Star still boasts the second best earned run average on the team at 3.62 and has an overall record of 6-2 as well as four saves in four opportunities.

Of course Fuzesy always knew that Carpenter would be a key part of his pitching staff, but lately, No. 5 has taken his game to a whole new level. Carpenter has won his last three starts, which all came within seven days and even came on for a save in a 4-2 win over Lethbridge Wednesday.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of Carpenter as well as the play of the rest of the North Stars, Havre is putting together its best season in years. After winning four straight games over Fort Macleod and Lethbridge earlier this week, the North Stars find themselves near the top of the Northern A district standings with just four conference games to go.

That means that Havre has a legitimate chance to go to the State A American Legion baseball tournament for the first time in almost a decade. And for a kid like Carpenter, who was born and raised in Havre and grew up watching the North Stars, helping them get back to state would be a dream come true.

With four consecutive wins under their belt, the North Stars will look to make it six straight wins as they welcome the Great Falls Chargers to Legion Field Saturday for their final home doubleheader of the season. Havre will be looking to close its home schedule on a high note, while also improving its district standing even further. But, before the North Stars take on the Chargers, Carpenter, who will surely be one of the two starting pitchers Saturday, caught up with the Havre Daily News for five questions.

HDN: What is your favorite part about being a North Star?

Carpenter: "I like traveling around, going on the road and playing baseball. It's fun to go on the road trips and stuff with the other guys and being around the coaches, too, that's my favorite part."

HDN: What are all the pitches you throw?

Carpenter: "I throw a two-seam fastball, a four-seam fastball and a knuckleball. I could never throw a curveball and someone showed me how to throw a knuckleball. That's the pitch I use a lot when I am ahead in the count."

HDN: Are you a fan of baseball or do you just play? And do you have a favorite team or player?

Carpenter: "I am a fan of all baseball. Whether it's on TV or if it's just younger kids around here playing I love to watch baseball. I really like to watch the major league pitchers. I don't really have a favorite; I like watching them all."

HDN: What do you think you guys need to do to make it to state?

Carpenter: "I think we just need to keep doing what we have been doing. I think that we are a good team and we are right there at the top of our district, so as long as we keep playing like we have been, I think we will make it."

HDN: What would it mean for you guys as a team to get the North Stars back to state?

Carpenter: "It would mean a lot. I think it would show that baseball is really back in Havre. We want to show the younger kids that we are a good team, so that they want to come up and play, too. And I think if we make it to state it will make even more kids want to play baseball."