Miners shut down North Stars on opening night

The Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team was hoping that home field would be an advantage when it comes to ending a Northern A District Tournament drought dating back more than three years.

The Lethbridge Miners instead made it seem like Havre was home.

On Thursday night, in the final game of the opening round of the 2017 Northern A District Tournament, the fifth-seeded Miners battered the fourth-seeded North Stars 16-0 inside Legion Field. The loss sends Havre into today's loser-out game where the North Stars will try and keep their season alive.

And while Havre will look to advance today with a win over eighth-seeded Tri-County, Lethbridge never let the North Stars have a chance to reach the winner's bracket.

Offensively, the Miners took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and more than 15 hits later, they turned that into a 16-0, six-inning shutout.

Offensively, the Miners were hot from start to finish. They racked up four hits in the top of the second inning to take a 5-0 lead, and added two more in the third to lead 7-0.

Meanwhile, Lethbridge's tall left on the mound was mowing down the North Stars at the plate in what turned out to be a frustrating night for Havre. The North Stars would strike out seven times at the dish and garner just three hits. Ethan Roberts had an infield hit, while Gavin Mosbrucker doubled and Jake Sedahl came up with a solid base hit in the final inning.

And the final inning turned out to be the sixth, where in the top half, the Miners exploded for eight more runs off several Havre relief pitchers. In all, Lethbridge racked up 11 hits while chasing Havre starter Brendan Garden. Austin Delarosa, Calvin White and Mosbrucker all took turns in relief of Garden as well. The North Stars also struggled in the field, committing seven errors.

With the loss, Havre will now try and rebound this afternoon when it takes on the Tri-County Cardinals. The winner of that game will take on the winner of Great Falls and Fort MacLeod, who played this morning. That loser-out game will take place Saturday morning.

In other first-round games Thursday, Medicine Hat beat Great Falls 5-1, Lewistown took care of Fort MacLeod 15-0, and Vauxhall downed Tri-County 11-1. Medicine Hat plays Lewistown today at 3 p.m. in one winner's bracket semifinal, while Vauxhall battle Lethbridge in the other semifinal at 6 p.m.

The 2017 Northern A District Tournament continues through Sunday's championship game, with the top two teams advancing to next week's State A Tournament in Bozeman.

Roberts named All-District

While Thursday night was a rough one for the North Stars, Havre center fielder Ethan Roberts was honored by being named to the Northern A All-District Team. Roberts hit better than .350 in his second full season with the North Stars, while also playing outstanding in center, and handling some of the pitching duties as well. Roberts was also an All-Conference Montana hockey players for the Havre Ice Hawks this past winter.

Roberts named All-District

While Thursday night was a rough one for the North Stars, Havre center fielder Ethan Roberts was honored by being named to the Northern A All-District Team. Roberts hit better than .350 in his second full season with the North Stars, while also playing outstanding in center, and handling some of the pitching duties as well. Roberts was also an All-Conference Montana hockey players for the Havre Ice Hawks this past winter.

Lethbridge 16, Havre 0, 6 inn

Lethbridge 142 108x - 16 11 0

Havre 000 000x - 0 3 7

Havre Batting - Keldan Sullivan 0-3, Ethan Roberts 1-3, Jake Sedahl 1-3, Brenden Danielson 0-3, Tony Antley 0-1, Kennedy McKay 0-2, Trey Murphy 0-2, Gavin Mosbrucker 1-2 (2B), Brendan Garden 0-1, Austin Delarosa 0-1.