North Stars hoping to get hot in July

A year ago, the Havre North Stars American Legion Baseball team used a hot stretch in July to take over first place in the Northern A District. And while that may be difficult to do this year, the North Stars will have a big chance to make some headway this week, with six district games in four days.

Havre, which split with the Great Falls Chargers Tuesday night at Legion Field, will travel to Vauxhall today for a doubleheader, followed by home doubleheaders against Lethbridge Saturday and Vauxhall Sunday.

All four home games will be at Legion Field. The doubleheader in Vauxhall starts at 3pm. The doubleheader in Havre Saturday gets underway at 5 p.m., and the first pitch on Sunday will go out at 1 p.m.

Havre, which plays in the eight-team Northern District of Class A baseball, currently sits in sixth place with a 4-8 record. The team is 11-16 overall. Yet, the North Stars will have the chance to make up some ground as Vauxhall (11-5) is tied for the top spot with Lethbridge (11-5).

"Last year, we got really hot, and I think we went from fifth to first in the manner of about a week," North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy said. "I think it will be hard for us to do anything like that again, especially since we have put ourselves behind the eight-ball a little bit, but we definitely have a chance to make up some ground and try to get into the top half of the district."

While Vauxhall, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, which also has 11 wins, may be difficult to catch, Lewistown and Tri-County, 8-4 and 8-8, respectively, are within striking distance, particularly if the North Stars can put a good streak together over the course of these six games.

"We try to look at it like a series," Fuzesy said. "We play four games over the course of the season and we want to try and win at least two of those games but if we win three, then you win the series for the season. That's what we did against Great Falls and that's what we are going to try to do against these other teams. But the idea is always to sweep at home and split on the road, so that's what we're looking for."

In order for the North Stars to knock off Vauxhall, they will need standout efforts from their top pitchers Dylan Carpenter and Jerod Boles, who likely start Thursday and Saturday for Havre. Brendan Garden, Brenden Danielson and Jeff Miller may also see time on the bump.

"Jeff has been a good pitcher for us and he always hits his spot, but sometimes it's hard because he's so good on defense," Fuzesy said. "He is our best shortstop and our best at first base, so he may not pitch as much, but he's OK with that."

However, while Miller may not see the mound as much, he has become a key part of the Havre offense and now leads the team with a .375 average for the season. He also has 16 RBIs and 14 runs scored.

Catcher Jake Sedahl has also been stellar at the plate, batting .349 with 23 RBIs and 20 runs scored. Carpenter, who normally man's third base on defense when his is not pitching, is currently batting .297 with 12 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

The North Stars, who are hitting just .260 as a team, are hoping to see their team average improve, especially as they get later into the season and see more of their district foes for the second time.

"We have a lot of young guys and we are really banking on them improving this second half of the season," Fuzesy said. "Sometimes, it just takes a while to get used to the pitching at the legion level. But, I remember Jake (Sedahl) did really well the second half of his first year, so we are really banking on those kids to do that."

The North Stars will play two today in Vauxhall starting at 3 p.m. Havre will then host Lethbridge at 5 p.m., Saturday and then Vauxhall Sunday at 1 p.m.