Northstars split conference opener against Lewistown

After 13 non-conference games to start the season, the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club finally got their conference season started with a doubleheader against the Lewistown Redbirds at Legion Field Tuesday night. Not only did the Northstars split the night against their opponent, but they impressed Havre head coach Patch Wirtzberger with their focus in their first conference games.

"We were very focused throughout the day," Wirtzberger said. "Very focused at-bats throughout the day that kept us in both ball games."

Havre came into the night after losing two straight games to the Gallatin Valley Outlaws and Glasgow Reds at the Havre Jamboree this past weekend. They snapped that losing streak with a 5-3 win over the Redbirds in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

The Northstars did not start the game well on defense as Lewistown scored on an error in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Havre defense stiffened up the next two innings to keep them in the game. Their offense finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Eli Cloninger scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game. Lewistown responded in the top of fourth to take a 2-1 lead when a sacrifice bunt from Nolan Fry got the runner from third base to home.

Havre took control of the game after three straight batters reached base to start the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Lewistown pitcher Brody Jenness walked Ethan Carlson to drive in a run and tie the game. The Northstars then took the lead when Caden Jenkins scored on a wild pitch. Havre pushed their lead to 4-2 when Brody Nanini scored on a fielder's choice.

"They executed at a really high level," Wirtzberger said about his team's offensive performance. "It's not just bunting and it's not just hitting, it's about extending at-bats and getting two-strike hits and getting two-out hits and that's the difference in the ball game."

Jenkins pushed Havre's lead to 5-2 with an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the sixth. The Redbirds attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh when they got the bases loaded. After they scored to cut their deficit to two runs, Havre relief pitcher Kale Reno recorded two straight outs to end the game.

"I just wanted to finish the game and finish what I had to do," Reno said.

Carson Lunak started the game at pitcher for the Northstars. He pitched the first six innings where he allowed seven hits, two earned runs and four walks. He would have finished the game but a high pitch count forced Wirtzberger to put Reno in the game to finish it.

"Carson was great all day long and we would've tried and let him finish but it's just a pitch count issue," Wirtzberger said. "We got Kale in the bullpen that we know can come in and throw hard and throw strikes and they got it done for us."

The Northstars however could not carry their momentum over into the second game of their doubleheader as they suffered a 6-4 loss to end the night. Lewistown got it going early in the top of the first with an RBI single from Travis McAlpin to take a 1-0 lead. Havre responded in the bottom of the first when Cloninger scored on an error to tie the game.

The Northstar defense recorded two straight outs to start the top of the second. Havre could have ended the inning early but a fielding error let the frame continue. The Redbirds took advantage of the Havre mistake with an Isaiah Marquart single to right field to drive in a run for the lead. On the same play, a Lewistown runner scored on a Havre error to make their lead 3-1. Another Havre error allowed another Lewistown runner to score and extend their lead to 4-1.

"Tough error on a hard-hit ball which is going to happen," Wirtzberger said about the Havre error that prolonged the inning. "They were stinging the baseball all game long. I can't be too mad at my defense. I thought they played hard and were in the right spots."

Havre did not go away as they responded in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, Lunak hit a ground ball to center field to drive in a run. Reno then scored on a fielder's choice to cut Havre's deficit to one run.

Havre could not maintain momentum as Lewistown extended their lead in the top of the fourth. Fry started the scoring with an RBI single to left field. Marquart then scored on another Havre error to push Lewistown's lead to 6-3.

The Northstars again did not let the game get away from them. In the bottom of the fifth, Theron Peterson singled to right field to drive in a run and cut their deficit to two runs. In the bottom of the seventh, the Northstars failed to get on base as Lewistown recorded three straight outs to end the game.

The Northstars now have a 10-5 overall record and opened conference play with a 1-1 record. Havre will now head on the road for the next month to play non-conference games. As they play away from home for the first time this season, Wirtzberger hopes they can carry over the focus they showed against Lewistown into their month-long road trip.

"We need to build on that focus that we just had," Wirtzberger said. "Just not take any opponents for granted, not take any games for granted and know that every game is an opportunity to get better and if they do that, we'll be just fine."

The Havre Northstars will next play in the Three Forks Tournament this weekend in Three Forks.

Havre 5, Lewistown 3

Lewistown 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 - 3 8 2

Havre 0 0 1 0 3 1 X - 5 8 2

WP - Carson Lunak

LP - Brody Jenness

Havre Batting - Eli Cloninger 2-4, Caden Jenkins 1-2, Brody Nanini 1-3, Ethan Carlson 1-2, Trenton Maloughney 1-3, Theron Peterson 1-2, Carson Lunak 0-4, Tavish McLean 0-2, Drake Berreth 1-2.

Lewistown 6, Havre 4

Lewistown 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 - 6 11 2

Havre 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 - 4 7 6

WP - Xander Wright

LP - Trenton Maloughney

Havre Batting - Eli Cloninger 2-4, Caden Jenkins 0-4, Brody Nanini 1-4, Ethan Carlson 1-3, Theron Peterson 1-3, Drake Berreth 0-2, Kale Reno 1-2, Carson Lunak 1-3, Tavish McLean 0-3.