Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Carson Lunak, Havre Northstars

With just over a month left in the regular season, the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club are playing some of their best baseball. They have a record of 19-10 and are 8-1 in their last nine games.

One player that has aided their efforts this season is senior pitcher Carson Lunak. As the Northstars get ready for the final month of play, Lunak hopes to help them reach new heights.

"I hope that our team can keep playing well together and just persevere," Lunak said. "I believe that we can be district champs and can go even further if we hold ourselves to the standards that we have."

Lunak got into baseball after he moved to Havre from Cut Bank during the summer of seventh grade. His friend and fellow Northstar Ethan Carlson convinced him to begin playing baseball, and Lunak has stuck with it ever since. He began pitching on a more consistent basis around his freshman year. Over the years, he has enjoyed baseball because of the atmosphere surrounding the sport.

"I just love the team environment and just the amazing atmosphere, especially our team this year," Lunak said. "It just makes it a really fun environment and a great time."

Lunak has produced on both sides of the mound this season. On offense, he has a .303 batting average, 15 RBIs and 10 runs scored. But his greatest impact comes on the mound, where he leads the team with 44 innings pitched and nine games started. He has a record of 5-1 and has a 3.023 earned run average and 26 strikeouts. Despite the strong individual performance, he credits his team and coaches for his success this year.

"The key to my success is the amazing team and coaching that I have. Just having great players and great playmakers behind you," Lunak said. "If you don't have your stuff or you're not striking everybody out, just having those kids behind you that you know make plays makes it a lot easier up there."

Once the season is over, Lunak will head to Dickinson State University in North Dakota to play football as an offensive lineman this fall. Even though he is a senior this season, Lunak does have the opportunity to return for another season for the Northstars next summer during his school break. However, he has not decided on if he will return for another season or not.

Lunak and the Northstars look to keep their momentum going as they head on the road to play the Great Falls Chargers tonight. The Northstars swept the Chargers in a doubleheader at home at Legion Field back in April. Before Lunak hits the diamond for tonight's doubleheader, the Havre Daily News got the chance to ask him five questions.

HDN: What do you enjoy the most about pitching?

Lunak: "I like just being able to go up there and let my team make plays for me, and it's nice to just have good teammates around you to help with that and, it just makes it an amazing game and it helps you as an individual."

HDN: As the team's leading pitcher, how do you handle the workload?

Lunak: "It's just our great coaching. Our coaches are really good on us about taking care of our arms and our bodies, and so, with all that, it makes it so that arm care and how our bodies feel, we talk a lot about that and it helps just to take care of ourselves so that we can keep playing."

HDN: Who's your favorite baseball player?

Lunak: "My favorite baseball player of all time is Ken Griffey Jr. because I'm a big (Seattle) Mariners guy, but, right now, my favorite baseball player that plays right now is Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (of the Toronto Blue Jays)."

HDN: Do you have a favorite baseball memory?

Lunak: "My favorite baseball memory would have to be making the state tournament last year."

HDN: At Dickinson State, what will you major in?

Lunak: "I'm going to major in P.E. I'm going to be a P.E. teacher and I'm hoping to be able to work in a minor in special education."