One last home game for North Star trio

It's hard to believe that the American Legion baseball season will soon be coming to a close, but in truth, the end will be here before we know it.

Yet, for three members of the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team, tonight is the beginning of the end, as Jeff Miller, Dylan Carpenter and Jerod Boles will play at Legion Field for the final time against the Scobey Blues in the team's last home game of the season. The first pitch goes out tonight at 5.

"Those seniors are definitely guys that we are going to miss," North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy said. "Jeff and Dylan, they have been around been playing for the last four years and Jerod, he has played the last two, so they have been a big part of our program."

And despite the fact that the North Stars have struggled to a 13-26 record this season, there is little doubt that Miller, Carpenter and Boles have been three of the team's most important players.

Miller, who currently leads the team with a .400 batting average, has had a spectacular final season of Legion baseball, not just at the plate, but at first base, where his stellar glove should put him in the running for an All-District spot at season's end.

"I don't care what I have to do," Fuzesy said. "But I am going to do whatever it takes to get him All-Conference because he deserves it."

Fuzesy said that while Miller's on-field production has been huge this season, he has also meant a lot of the team as a leader.

"Jeff isn't always the biggest rah rah guy," Fuzesy said. "But he leads in other ways. He goes about things the right way. He stretches out the way you should, he practices the way you should, he takes the right approach to the game, and I think others see that and try to emulate it. At least I think the younger kids do."

Like Miller, Carpenter also has played thee full seasons for the North Stars and this year has split time between the mound and third base. He has been one of the team's top pitchers in each of the past two seasons and is 4-5 this season with an ERA of 3.79, which is second on the team.

"He just really loves the game of baseball," Fuzesy said of Carpenter. "You can just tell with him. He is always talking about baseball and trying to see what he can do to help me with the field. He just loves the game and loves being around it and that's really refreshing."

Boles may not have played baseball for the North Stars all three years, but he is doing everything he can to make up for lost time. So far this season, he has done some of his best work on the mound, where he has amassed a 3-1 record and an ERA of 2.69, which leads the team.

Yet, Boles has also been a valuable utility player in the field and has played every position except first base, which is where he will start tonight according to Fuzesy.

"I didn't even know that until he told me the other day after he played catcher," Fuzesy said. "And that's pretty cool when you think about it. So he is going to start at first base and that will mean he will have played at least every defensive position once this season."

Boles has also tormented teams offensively with his bat, as he is hitting .294 and even more so with his legs, as he scored a team-high 34 times this season and has a team-high 16 stolen bases.

"He's just great to have around," Fuzesy said. "He always knows how to have fun and keep the mood light. He is always joking around or is having us warm up a certain way, but he keeps it interesting."

Fuzesy said that while the team will miss all three players' contributions, the team will miss their dedication and love of the game even more.

"Those three guys really love the game and they made it fun to be around," Fuzesy said. "And I am lucky to have gotten to coach them."

Tonight's final home game between Havre and Scobey is set for 5 at Legion Field. Havre finishes the season with six on the road.