Havre Northstars not in contact with Legion player who tested positive for COVID-19

American Legion baseball now has a positive test for coronavirus, but rumors that stirred around Havre Thursday that it involved the Havre Northstars were not accurate.

One of the Northstars' Northern District opponents did have player test positive for COVID-19 a Wednesday. However, according to Havre head coach Patch Wirtzberger, the Northstars haven't had any contact with the team, or that player in more than two weeks.

"We were informed yesterday that a player from a team we play has tested positive," Wirtzberger said Thursday. "But what we know is, we were told we have had no contact with that team since that player came in contact with someone who had contracted the virus. We haven't played against them or been in any of the tournaments at the same time they were there."

In other words, the Northstars are not a contact of the player who tested positive. Privacy laws preclude publicly listing the name or town in which someone has tested positive for COVID-19.

Wirtzberger did say that, the player who tested positive is certain he did not contract the virus during anything related to American Legion baseball. Still, as a result of what may be the first positive case since legion baseball started last month, Wirtzberger said that the Havre Youth Baseball American Legion Board was conducting a meeting Thursday night to discuss what happens as the Northstars move forward.

Havre has 15 games left in the regular season, including several road trips, all while the coronavirus cases continue to rise in Montana. Coincidentally, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock Thursday pleaded with Montanan's to wear masks in public and do more than they have been doing to help prevent the spread of the virus.

"I think this has to be a wakeup call for all of us," Wirtzberger said. "We need to look at what we're doing and make sure we're doing everything necessary to keep our players and everyone involved with Legion baseball safe. If we need to do more going forward, that's what we'll do."

The Northstars are scheduled to play the Great Falls Lightning in a Northern A doubleheader Sunday afternoon in Great Falls.