North Stars split district opener

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team was on the road Sunday for their first conference doubleheader of the season and in the end, achieved a much-needed split.

Havre, which played at the Tri-County Cardinals, lost the first game 14-3, but rebounded to win the second game 11-2. The north Stars are 1-2 on the young season.

"The first game was kind of a blowout," North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy said. "But we came back and won the second and got the split. So we are happy with that. We never seem to play well at Tri-County, and I don't think we have won there in a few years so we will take it."

Gavin Mosbrucker was on the bump for the North Stars, but he lasted just three innings after the Cardinals scored five runs in the bottom of the first and four more in the bottom of the second inning. The North Stars scored a run in the top of the third and added two more in the fifth, when Kelden Sullivan, who was 3-of-4 on the day, connected on a two-run double.

Yet, the North Stars surrendered five runs over the last three innings as the Cardinals won by 11. Mosbrucker got the loss for Havre. In addition to Sullivan, Caleb Allestad also added two hits in the loss.

While the pitching struggled in the first game against Tri-County, Brendan Garden came out strong for the North Stars, holding the Cardinals scoreless in the first three innings, before Garden allowed a run each in the fourth and fifth inning. He struck out a total of four and walked five.

In the meantime, Havre plated four runs in the top of the third and six more in the top of the sixth. The North Stars added an insurance run in the sixth, which pushed the lead to 11-2. Austin Delarosa pitched the final two innings and held the Cardinals to no runs and no hits.

Garden got the win for the North Stars, but he also helped out at the plate, getting two hits and knocking in two runs. Mosbrucker also contributed with two hits and two RBIs. Brady Ophus got two hits as well and brought one runner home. Kelden Sullivan was 3-of-5 with an RBI. Brenden Danielson also had a big day at the dish, notching three hits and Ethan Roberts pitched in with two.

"Brendan did a nice job for us," Fuzesy said. "He pitched some good innings and Kelden Sullivan, he also had a good day. He got some hits for us and had a double that brought in two runs, (Gavin) Mosbrucker also hit the ball well in that second game."

Havre will play again on May 30 when they will travel to Great Falls to take on the Great Falls Outlaws.

Tri-County 14, Havre 3

Havre 001 020 - 3 7 0

Tri County - 540 212 x - 14 13 0

WP: Breeding LP: Mosbrucker

Havre - Ethan Roberts 0-2, Kelden Sullivan 2-4, Brenden Danielson 0-2, Gavin Mosbrucker 1-2, Austin Delarosa 1-3, Brendan Garden 0-1, Tony Antley 1-3, Caleb Allestad 2-2, Brady Ophus 0-3.

Havre 11, Tri-County 2

Havre 004 601 0 - 11 17 1

Tri-County 000 110 0 - 2 5 2

WP: Garden LP: Judisch

Havre - Ethan Roberts 2-5, Kelden Sullivan 3-5, Gavin Mosbrucker 2-4, Brenden Danielson 3-4, Austin Delarosa 1-4, Brendan Garden 2-4, Brady Ophus 2-3, Caleb Allestad 1-4, Tony Antley 1-3.