Legion Fun: North Stars split with Chargers

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team has played a lot of jamboree and tournament games of late. But with June almost over, the North Stars are getting into the heart of their Northern A District schedule.

And that stretch started with a twilight doubleheader with the Great Falls Chargers Tuesday night at Legion Field. The North Stars swept the Chargers earlier this month in Great Falls, but Havre couldn't quite finish the four-game sweep on its own field.

After Havre beat the Chargers in the opening game Tuesday night, Great Falls battled back in a big way, beating Havre in six innings to earn the split. The home split leaves Havre at 4-6 in district play, heading into a very tough stretch.

Still, the North Stars got their latest home stand off on the right foot, thanks to a great pitching performance from first-year player Gavin Mosbrucker, as well as a big RBI triple by Jeff Miller, which gave the North Stars a 3-1 win.

On the mound, Mosbrucker allowed just three hits and no runs in the start, earning him his first win of the season. He also got some outstanding catches in the outfield by Ethan Roberts and Jerod Boles.

Meanwhile, Havre got to Great Falls' starter Tucker Pietrey early, as Jake Sedahl singled ahead of Miller's deep shot to center field, which brought Sedahl home. Miller was plated on the next at-bat as Brendan Garden drove him in.

The 2-0 lead would stand, though Havre tacked on an insurance run in the second when Kennedy McKay drove Brendan Danielson. On the bump, Havre got into a little trouble in the sixth inning, as another first-year player, Tony Antley came on in relief of Mosbrucker. However, eventually, veteran Dylan Carpenter would come in to record the final six outs, earning the save, and giving Havre its third straight win over the Chargers.

Sedahl had two of Havre's nine hits in the game. Miller and Carpenter, who also had two hits, both had triples, while Roberts also had a hit in the victory.

And while Havre was riding high after a hard-fought win, things didn't stay that way for long.

In the nightcap, the Chargers exploded for 14 hits and 11 runs in a six-inning 11-1 victory.

The game started off as a pitcher's dual between Miller and Great Falls' ace Brayden Welty. Both pitchers were in control early, and zeroes were still on the board through three complete innings. That however, is when the wheels came off for the North Stars.

In the top of the fourth, the Chargers belted out six singles and a bases-clearing triple to take a 5-0 lead. And things got worse in the next inning, as the Chargers added another four runs on three more singles to lead 9-0.

Havre scored a run when McKay drove in Boles in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn't enough, as the Chargers crossed to more runs off relief pitcher Brendan Garden in the top of the sixth, and then sent Welty out to get three more outs in the bottom half of the inning to end the game.

Miller, who has been red-hot at the plate of late, was saddled with the loss for the North Stars, but, they also struggled mightily against Welty, Havre managed just three hits, coming from Sedahl, Boles and McKay.

Despite the tough second outing against the Chargers, the North Stars were able to earn a home split, and, after a tough trip to first-place Vauxhall Thursday, Havre will have more opportunities to win games at Legion Field.

The North Stars will play a conference doubleheader against the Lethbridge Miners Saturday night, and, another double-dip with the first-place Vauxhall Spurs Sunday afternoon.

North Stars 3, Great Falls Chargers 1

WP – Gavin Mosbrucker, S – Dylan Carpenter

Havre Batting – Kennedy McKay 1-4, Dylan Carpenter 2-3, Jake Sedahl 2-3, Jeff Miller 1-3, Brendan Garden 1-2, Trey Murphy 0-3, Brendan Danielson 1-2, Ethan Roberts 1-3, Jerod Boles 1-3.

Great Falls Chargers 11, North Stars 1, 6 inn

LP – Jeff Miller

Havre Batting – Kennedy McKay 1-3, Dylan Carpenter 0-3, Jake Sedahl 1-3, Jeff Miller 0-2, Brendan Garden 0-3, Trey Murphy 0-2, Jerod Boles 1-1, Ethan Roberts 0-2, Brendan Danielson 0-2.