Northstars' run ends at state tourney

After falling to the Billings Blue Jays in the Class A State Tournament opening round, the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club would have to climb its way through the loser’s bracket to stay in the tournament and continue its season. Down in Lewistown at Ryan Sparks Field, the No. 2 Northstars were walking the wire.

But this weekend saw the end to Havre’s season, as the No. 2 Bitteroot Buccaneers defeated the Northstars 18-13 in a high-scoring shootout in the loser’s bracket. The heartbreaking loss sent the Northstars home, ending what was quite the journey to make it back to the state tourney.

Despite the loss, Havre head coach Patch Wirtzberger was proud of what his team put forward against Bitteroot.

“It was back and forth the whole game long,” Wirtzberger said. “both teams hit the ball really well and were fighting for their season. It was a really fun game to be a part of. Unfortunately, in the end, we just didn’t get that one break we needed. But the kids played their hearts out and that’s all you can really ask.”

The Bucs and Northstars both opened the game strong, with four runners on each side making it home in the first inning, but Bitteroot would pull away in the second with two runs. In the third inning, Havre and the Bucs once again exchanged the same amount of runs, both adding five to the scoreboard, but Bitteroot had the lead 11-9 after the third.

Havre capitalized in the fourth inning to put up two more runs to tie the score, but the Bucs stayed in the game, scoring a run in the fifth inning, while the Northstars kept up the pace, with the score tied 12-12 after the sixth inning. Havre was in for the fight of its season as the game started to draw to a close.

As for what stood out the most during the game against the Buccaneers, Wirtzberger saw something great shine through.

“We were really good at the plate,” Wirtzberger said. “For the most part, we were both days that we were there. That’s what stood out to me. Then Quinn Reno got put into a tough spot on the mound against a really tough hitting team and did a tremendous job up there to keep us in the ballgame.”

But, after a stalemate in the seventh inning, overtime came around, with Bitteroot making sure it made the Northstars work for the win. In the end, the six runners that scored for the Bucs outweighed the lone runner for Havre, giving Bitteroot the win and sending the Northstars home in a heartbreaker, effectively ending a wild ride of a season for Havre.

At the end of the game, Trenton Maloughney led the Northstars’ offense with two hits at three at-bats, with Caden Jenkins following with one hit at two at-bats.

The season was a crazy one for the Havre, and looking back, Wirtzberger had positive feelings about it.

“First of all, I’m just happy we got to have a season,” Wirtzberger said. “Several times throughout the summer, we didn’t know if we were going to be able to play or finish the season, so with that lurking over us, I think the kids just did a really good job of staying the course and preparing themselves for a postseason. That’s what they did. I hope this team is remembered for getting Havre back to the state tournament again after a long hiatus. That’s something to be really proud of.”

The season has come to an end for the Havre Northstars, but it has surely been quite the journey. Upsetting two strong Northern A District opponents at the Class A District Tournament, making it to the Class A State Tournament after being absent for 15 years and putting up a big fight at Ryan Sparks Field proved just how much this team had accomplished in what might have been a lost season.

The Bluejays beat Lewistown for the state title.

Bitteroot 18, Havre 13, LO

Bitteroot 4 2 5 0 1 00 6 – 18 16 6

Havre 4 0 5 2 0 1 0 1 – 13 11 7

WP – C. Kohlman

LP – Quinn Reno

Havre batting – Quinn Reno 2-5, Eli Cloninger 2-5, Tyrel Kjersem 1-4, Caden Jenkins 1-2, Ethan Carlson 1-5, Carson Lunak 0-5, Trenton Maloughney 2-3, Drake Berreth 1-3, Theron Peterson 1-3.