The Final Stretch: North Stars home for four

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team was in Great Falls Wednesday for its last road doubleheader of the season. Unfortunately, for Havre, which is trying to improve its position in the Northern A District standings, it ended with a split.

The North Stars won the first game against the Great Falls Chargers on the road 7-4, but faltered in the second game, as they were looking to sweep and fell to Great Falls 13-12. The North Stars have won three of four against Great Falls during the season. Havre is now 20-20 overall and 14-10 in district play.

Tony Antley got the start for the North Stars in the first game, but gave way to Brendan Garden after just two innings. However, the Havre offense got things going early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning and adding four more in the second. Kelden Sullivan was part of the big surge offensively, as he had an RBI single in the first inning and a two-run double in the second.

After Antley made it through the two innings, Garden and Gavin Mosbrucker pitched the rest of the way as the North Stars held on for the three-run victory.

"The first game went just about as I was hoping it would," North Stars head coach Dick Fuzesy said. "We got through it with Antley, Garden and Mossy (Mosbrucker) and we kept them all under their pitch count, so they will be able to pitch against Vauxhall."

Sullivan notched two hits in the win, as did Garden, Jake Sedahl and Brenden Danielson. Kennedy McKay also had a double and an RBI, while Antley helped his own cause with a hit and a couple RBI.

After winning game one and wrapping up at least fifth place in the Northern A district, the North Stars tried to complete the two-game sweep against Great Falls, but ultimately fell short and lost 13-12. Calvin White got the start for the North Stars and fell behind early, before being replaced by Trey Murphy.

However, with Murphy on the mound, the North Stars gradually climbed back into the game and tied the score at 12-12 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. But Great Falls got a walk-off in its final at-bat to steal the win. Murphy was stuck with the loss. Caleb Allestad also led the way for Havre offensively with four hits.

"We did a great job of battling back," Fuzesy said. "We just gave up a run there in the seventh. We probably let Calvin go one inning too long. We also tried out a few different things, but that is no excuse. We still need to beat teams like that."

Havre came into the week in fifth place in the district, but with Vauxhall coming to town for a doubleheader tonight, followed by a doubleheader with Medicine Hat Saturday, it will have a chance to improve its position. The four games could have a big impact on the final district standings, as just a few games separate the top-5 teams. Vauxhall came into the week, holding the top spot, while Medicine Hat came in starting out in third place, but leading Havre and Lethbridge by just a game.

"I think most importantly, we just want to try and go into districts with some positive momentum," Fuzesy said. "We would like to get at least a split or a sweep in both, but we at least want to get another win over Vauxhall and it would be nice to get a win over Medicine Hat, then we would have beaten every team in the district at least once."

The North Stars will take on Medicine Hat tonight at 5. They will also take on Vauxhall Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. Both games will be doubleheaders and they will all be played at Legion Field.