Northstars enter busy stretch with a split

While many folks along the Hi-Line enjoyed their Memorial weekend, the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball team was busy, with a Northern A District doubleheader, on the road, against the Great Falls Chargers.

The Northstars opened the series with an impressive 11-2 win, as Havre racked up 14 hits compared to four for Great Falls. Yet, in the second game, despite out-hitting the Chargers 8-5, six errors proved costly for the Northstars, who fell 7-5. Following the split, Havre is 7-8 on the season.

In the opening game, the Northstars trotted out Brendan Garden to be their starting pitcher and it proved to be a wise choice, as Garden limited the Chargers to one run and two hits in five innings of work. He also struck out two. Brenden Danielson helped finish off the win, throwing two strong innings, allowing one run and giving up just two hits over the sixth and seventh innings.

At the plate, Havre broke things open in the top of the third, when the Northstars racked up seven runs, to take a 1-0 lead and turning it into an 8-0 advantage. The Chargers tried to answer, plating a run in the third and another in the sixth. But two more runs in the fifth helped the Northstars keep it out of reach. Jake Sedahl had a big day at the dish for the Northstars, going 3-for-5, with a double and three RBIs.

Garden also helped his own cause with three hits in three plate appearances, including a double and a run scored. Tony Antley also added a hit and a RBI, while Gavin Mosbrucker drove in two runs. Quinn Reno, Ethan Roberts, Austin Delarosa, Mosbrucker and Eli Cloninger all managed to have at least one hit.

In the second game of the double dip, the Northstars fell behind early to the Chargers by the score of 3-0. Yet, in the top of the fourth inning, Havre tied the game with a three-run inning. But in the fourth and fifth innings, the Chargers tacked on four more runs and were able to close out the 7-5 victory.

Antley got the loss on the mound for the Northstars after he allowed seven runs in just over four innings of work. He also allowed five hits, walked five and struck out three. Roberts came on in relief and finished off the game with a couple scoreless innings, but it wasn't enough to change the final result and Antley was hit with the loss. Sedahl had another strong game at the plate in the loss, notching two hits and an RBI. Garden aso added two hits as did Roberts. Reno added a hit and an RBI, as did Austin Delarosa.

The Northstars will return to Legion Field this weekend for a four-game stretch of Northern A games this weekend, starting Saturday night at 5 against Fort MacLeod. Havre will also take on Medicine Hat Sunday, with the first pitch of the doubleheader going out at 1 p.m.