North Stars earn key split

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team was hoping to end its week of eight district games with a sweep Saturday over Lethbridge at Legion Field.

However, after losing the opening game 12-0, the North Stars simply needed to find a way to get a split, which they did thanks to an 8-7 victory in the second game of the Northern A District doubleheader. The win improved Havre's overall record to 15-17 and its district mark to 9-7.

"Getting a split was huge," North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy said. "Especially after losing that first game, we knew that we really needed to win the second one. I am not sure what happened in the first game, we just weren't ready I guess. I told our guys we needed to play harder and thankfully, they were able to turn it around."

The North Stars, who had lost three of four games at Medicine Hat and Vauxhall Wednesday and Thursday, struggled mightily at the plate in game one against Lethbridge. Havre managed just two hits and failed to score a single run. On the other hand, four defensive errors helped the Miners build a commanding 7-0 lead after a run in the first, three in the second and three more in the fourth. Lethbridge eventually added five more in the seventh, finishing the game with 12 runs on 14 hits.

Austin Delarosa, who went the distance for the North Stars, was given the loss after giving up 12 runs on 14 hits. Seven of the runs were earned. He also struck out two and walked three. Tony Antley was the only Havre player to come up with a hit. He finished the game with two, including a double in the second inning.

In game two, Lethbridge again grabbed an early lead after scoring a run in the top of the second inning. Yet, Brenden Danielson would tie the game after drawing a walk and eventually scoring. Later in the bottom of the second, Kennedy McKay scored on a passed ball, making it 2-1. A few batters later, Ethan Roberts laid down a bunt and beat a bad throw, which resulted in two more runs being scored and Havre taking a 4-1 advantage.

The Miners trimmed the lead back down to 4-3 with two runs in the third, but a hit by Danielson and another Lethbridge error allowed him to score again, putting the North Stars in front 5-3. Shortly after, Kelden Sullivan got an RBI single, as did Mosbrucker and suddenly the score was 7-3 after three innings.

The score would stay that until into the top of the sixth, when the Miners loaded the bases and eventually got four runs across the tie the score up at 7-7. However, in the bottom half of the inning, Brendan Garden got things going with a single. Then, a bad throw, advanced him from first to third, before a ball got him in.

Leading 8-7, the North Stars needed just three more outs to win the game. And with the tying runner at first, Mosbrucker stopped a hard hit ball to third and made a stellar throw for the game's final out, preserving the North Stars win.

"We made some mistakes there at the end, but we found a way," Fuzesy said. "It was a good thing we did, I was about out of arms. But, we made it through. Now we will have everyone start over, except for the guys that pitched (Saturday). We wish we would have done better than 4-4 this week, but we are 9-7 in the conference and we are still right there."

Even though the North Stars managed eight runs, they finished with just five hits. Jake Sedahl and Danielson each had two in the win for Havre, while Garden also had one. Danielson and McKay both scored two runs each as well. Roberts, who pitched the final three innings, got the win. He allowed four runs, none of them earned, while also striking out two.

The North Stars will be back in action today, when they pay a visit to Lethbridge to make up a doubleheader that was canceled earlier in the season due to rain.

Lethbridge 12, Havre 0

Lethbridge 130 300 5 - 12 14 0

Havre 000 000 0 - 0 2 4

LP - Austin Delarosa

Havre batting - Kelden Sullivan 0-3, Ethan Roberts 0-2, Jake Sedahl 0-2, Brenden Danielson 0-2, Kennedy McKay 0-3, Tony Antley 2-2, Trey Murphy 0-3, Brady Ophus 0-2, Brendan Garden 0-2.

Havre 8, Lethbridge 7

Lethbridge - 012 004 0 - 7 7 6

Havre 043 001 x - 8 5 3

WP - Ethan Roberts

Havre batting - Brendan Garden 1-4, Ethan Robets 0-4, Jake Sedahl 2-4, Brenden Danielson 2-3, Tony Antley 0-3, Kennedy McKay 0-1, Trey Murphy 0-0, Austin Delarosa 0-0, Gavin Mosbrucker 0-2, Kelden Sullivan 0-2.