Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Ethan Roberts, Havre North Stars

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team has a lot of great athletes on it, but one of the best has to be Ethan Roberts.

Roberts, who is the everyday centerfielder for the North Stars, has put together a solid campaign in his second year with the team. The Havre High junior-to-be is a versatile athlete, playing football, baseball and hockey and even running track so far in his high school career. And for the North Stars, his versatility is often on display.

While he makes his home in center field, Roberts has also started some games at shortstop this season, in addition to his duties pitching. Over the course of 11 games, Roberts pitched 24 innings during the regular season for Havre and in the process compiled a 4-1 record. He was also 2-for-2 in save situations and posted a team-best 3.5 ERA.

Over the course of the season, Roberts has proven to be one of head coach Dick Fuzesy's most reliable pitchers, but he was also among his most consistent defenders. Roberts not only ranked third on the team in putouts with 99, he also had fielding percentage of .935, which was the highest of any everyday player on the roster.

However, Roberts' impressive sophomore season with the North Stars doesn't end there. As a first-year player with the team in 2016, he managed to hit just .188. But after a year of adjusting to Legion pitchers, his average went all the way up to .328 in his second season, while his on-base percentage is well over .400. He is also second on the team in hits with 40 and runs scored with 31.

Yet Roberts, who is also a standout on the ice, earning second-team All-State hockey honors from the Montana Amauter Hockey Association last month for his play during the 2016-17 season for the Havre Ice Hawks, was far from the only player who made a big jump from year one to year two.

The North Stars had a young team in 2016, but have already made big improvements from where they were at this time a season ago. Last season, the North Stars were entering the Northern A District tournament as the No. 8 seed. This year, Havre is hosting the tournament, which starts Thursday and starting out as the fourth-seeded team after posting a 15-13 record in district play this season.

Roberts' play has certainly been a catalyst for the North Stars improvement in 2017 and with the district tournament just days away, the Havre Daily News caught up with him for five questions.

HDN: How excited are you guys to have the district tournament here in Havre this year?

Roberts: "It's pretty cool. I think that we just want to go out and try to get a win. We haven't gotten a win at districts for a few years, so that's going to be a big focus for us. We want to get that first one out of the way."

HDN: What do you think has been the biggest reason for the team's improvement this year?

Roberts: "Last year, we didn't finish our games very well and I think that has been a big change this year. I think we are finishing a lot better and we have had more games that we have been able to come back and win."

HDN: You guys have had a lot of comebacks this year, which one was your favorite?

Roberts: "I think probably the one down in Whitefish when I got a walk-off hit. It was a pressure situation, but I was able to get a hit on the left side of the field and the ball got through, so that was pretty exciting."

HDN: So of all the sports you play, which one is your favorite?

Roberts: "I would probably have to say hockey."

HDN: You guys play Lethbridge Thursday night at districts, what would it mean for you guys if you could win that game?

Roberts: "We just have to start with one game and beat Lethbridge. We have beat them before and I think we can beat them again. It's going to be tough, but we just have to find a way to do it."