Havre goes 2-2 at Helena tourney

The Havre Northstars American Legion baseball team took a trip to Helena last week, in what will be the final non-conference games of the season.

Beginning last Thursday, the Northstars played four games in the Helena Tournament, one each day and when it was all said and done, Havre split, posting a 2-2 record with both of their losses coming to the Helena Reps. Havre knocked off Mountain View of Boise, Idaho, 11-10 to open the tournament Thursday and followed that up with a 4-1 defeat Friday against Helena. The Northstars rebounded against the Butte Muckers, notching a 12-3 win over the team from the Southern A District. Havre closed out the tournament with another loss to the Helena Reps, 14-6.

Havre (20-13, 10-6) will be back in action Wednesday. The Northstars will hit the road for a crucial doubleheader against first-place Vauxhall. The Spurs lead the Northern A District with a record of 12-2. Havre is in second at 10-6, sitting two games ahead of Lethbridge (10-8) in the loss column. Lewistown (7-6) is also in the mix.

While the Northstars will resume district play this week, with that double-dip against Vauxhall, Havre was able to open the Helena tourney with an exciting 11-10 win over the Mountain View Toros. The Northstars fell behind 5-1 but in the bottom of the third, they scored five runs. Kennedy McKay drove in a pair on a two-run single, putting his team in front 6-5.

Havre added to that lead in the bottom of the sixth. The game was tied at one point, 6-6, however, when Quinn Reno stepped to the plate, the Northstars led 7-6. But with a two-run double that lead grew to 9-6 and paved the way for two more runs, giving Havre an 11-6 advantage. Austin Delarosa got the win, while Hunter Lovenguth and Eli Cloninger helped preserve the 11-10 victory.

The Northstars managed 10 hits in the win, with Cloninger, Reno and McKay each getting two. McKay also drove in three runs, as did Tony Antley. Reno also notched two RBIs and scored twice.

After winning their first game, the Northstars matched up Helena for the first time during the weekend, however, they ran into starting pitcher Joel Anderson, who earned a complete-game win after allowing just one run on three hits and striking out five. Tyrel Kjersem was solid for Havre, going six innings, allowing five hits and four runs in addition to walking four. He was given the loss. Ethan Roberts, Kjersem and Lovenguth each recorded one hit. Trenton Maloughney also contributed with an RBI.

In the third game of the tournament, Havre took on Butte and dominated the Muckers thanks to a 10-run third inning. Reno led the way offensively with three hits and three RBIs. Delarosa also went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs driven in. Ethan Carlson also had one hit and two RBIs, which was the same stat line for McKay who got one hit and drove in two runs. Maloughney got the win after giving up just three runs on five hits and striking out three.

In the final game of the tournament, Carson Lunak went to the mound for the Northstars but didn’t make it past the second inning as he allowed 11 runs on 11 hits. The Northstars rallied and cut the lead to 11-5 in the third after getting five runs across in the top half of the inning, but in the bottom of the third, Helena added three more and went on to win 14-8 after totaling 12 hits. Jack Marcille got the win for the Reps, while Lunak was given the loss.

Roberts had a solid day offensively with two hits, a run and an RBI. Reno added a hit and drove home two runs, while Maloughney also managed two hits. McKay also contributed with a hit, an RBI, two walks and two runs scored.

Havre will try to make up some ground on first-place Vauxhall Wednesday with a road doubleheader that begins at 4 p.m.

Havre 11, Mountain View 10

MV 104 100 4 - 10 10 2

Havre 015 050 x - 11 10 3

WP - Austin Delarosa

LP - N. Beath

Havre - Ethan Roberts 1-5, Quinn Reno 2-3, Kelden Sullivan 1-3, Tyrel Kjersem 0-2, Eli Cloninger 2-3, Tony Antley 1-1, Ethan Carlson 1-2, Carson Lunak 0-4, Kennedy McKay 2-4.

Helena 4, Havre 1

Havre 000 010 0 - 1 3 3

Helena 000 022 - 4 5 0

WP - Joel Anderson

LP - Tyrel Kjersem

Havre - Ethan Roberts 1-3, Quinn Reno 0-3, Austin Delarosa 0-3, Tyrel Kjersem 1-3, Tony Antley 0-2, Hunter Lovenguth 1-2, Trenton Maloughney 0-3, Caden Jenkins 0-1, Kennedy McKay 0-2.

Havre 12, Butte 3

Havre 10 10 01 - 12 8 2

Butte 000 30 - 3 5 1

WP - Trenton Maloughney

LP - Hunter Salcido

Havre - Ethan Roberts 0-2, Quinn Reno 3-4, Kelden Sullivan 1-3, Austin Delarosa 2-2, Hunter Lovenguth 0-1, Tony Antley 0-1, Caden Jenkins 0-3, Eli Cloninger 0-1, Ethan Carlson 1-3, Theron Peterson 0-0, Kennedy McKay 1-3.

Helena 14, Havre 8

Havre 005 12 - 8 10 2

Helena 653 0 x - 14 12 1

WP - Jack Marcille

LP - Carson Lunak

Havre - Ethan Roberts 2-3, Quinn Reno 1-3, Austin Delarosa 1-2, Hunter Lovenguth 0-1, Kelden Sullian 0-1, Tyrel Kjersem 1-3, Tony Antley 1-3, Eli Cloninger 1-2, Trenton Maloughney 2-2, Carson Lunak 0-3, Kennedy McKay 1-1.