Gavin Mosbrucker, veterans driving Northstars towards the postseason

The Havre Northstars American Legion baseball team has been trying to find more consistency in recent weeks and with one final Northern A District doubleheader Thursday in Lethbridge, the Northstars will have one last chance to do that.

And with the district standings jam-packed from third through sixth, with only a game separating four teams, Fort

MacLeod, Tri-County, Lethbridge and Havre, there will be plenty on the line when the Northstars and Miners meet Thursday to close out the regular season. The first pitch will go out at 1 p.m.

The double dip with the Miners will also be the final regular-season contests for Northstars senior Gavin Mosbrucker. Mosbrucker has been a fixture on the Havre lineup card for the past few seasons, playing different positions such as third base, catcher and outfield and also seeing time as a pitcher.

"It has been a little different," Mosbrucker said of being in the outfield. "I was at third base for my first few years with the Northstars, so it's been an adjustment. It's a lot more running in the outfield. But it's been good."

While Mosbrucker has moved around a little in the field this season, he has been a consistent part of the Northstars lineup. He is one of just a handful of players to start in more than 30 games this season and also one of just six Havre players to make more than 100 plate appearances.

Consistency has been a big part of Mosbrucker's game this season for the Northstars and at the plate, he has been productive on a regular basis. He is hitting just .304 for the season. However, his on-base percentage is solid at .381 and he is also one of seven hitters to have reached double figures in both RBIs and runs scored. Yet, even when he isn't getting hits, Mosbrucker is still contributing by advancing runners and smart baserunning. The senior has four sacrifice bunts to his credit, which trails only Quinn Reno and Trey Murphy. He also seven steals.

Even though Mosbrucker has not been used as much as a pitcher this season for the Northstars, when he has been called on to start, he's done a solid job, tossing a total of 16 innings in six different appearances. He has yet to earn a decision, win or loss, in any of his trips to the mound. And ultimately, one of his best attributes is his willingness to take on any role for the team.

"I just want to do what I can to try and help the team win," Mosbrucker said. "I think that's what we are all trying to do. We are just trying to come together as a team and get a win in these last two games."

Coming into the final doubleheader, Havre is 20-20-1 overall, as well as 13-13 in the district. It's possible, with two wins, for Havre to climb as high as third place in the final standings, but at the same time, the Northstars could wind up as low as sixth.

"It's a lot of pressure to try and get these last couple of games," Mosbrucker said. "It would be nice to have a little higher seed and that will help us avoid some teams, but it's going to be tough. We have been trying to work on some of the mistakes that we have made and hopefully, we can put it all together."

Regardless of the outcome, Thursday's doubleheader against the Miners will close out the regular season for the Northstars, who will then head to the Northern A District tournament, which opens July 26.