Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Kale Vancampen, Havre Northstars

As the North A District tournament comes to Havre this weekend, the Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club is ready to begin the postseason. As they get ready to begin their quest for a district title this weekend at Legion Field, Northstars such as Kale Vancampen are excited to do it in front of their home crowd.

"(I look forward to) playing in front of our hometown fans," Vancampen said. "They support the program a lot, and we're really excited to put on a show and hopefully bring home the gold."

Heading into the postseason, the Northstars have been playing some of their best ball this season. In their past 15 games, the Northstars have gone 12-2-1 to finish the regular season with a 33-19-1 record. Vancampen believes the Northstars have found their stride late in the season because they have grown closer as a team.

"It all comes down to trust and knowing that when someone steps in the box, they're going to get it done," Vancampen said. "(Knowing that) they're going to go on the field and not make an error and make the play."

Vancampen has made his impact for the Northstars this season. At the plate, Vancampen has recorded a .283 batting average, a .439 on-base percentage, 24 RBIs and even a home run this season. With the success he has had this season along with his team, Vancampen has made sure to enjoy this summer.

"This season's been a lot of fun," Vancampen said. "We've had a lot of success as a team and individually but we're not done yet because we have a couple more weeks."

Once the district and state tournaments are finished to end the month, Vancampen will immediately begin preparing for the Havre High football season in the fall. He does not expect there to be much change in his transition from baseball to football, but he is excited for his final year with the Blue Ponies.

"I'm looking forward to competing in my senior year," Vancampen said. "I'm going to go out there and compete and try to do whatever's best for the team to get the program back on track."

Vancampen's senior season will be a busy one. Once the football season is done, he will compete in wrestling in the winter and then track and field in the spring. He should then play one more season for the Northstars next summer. After placing fifth in his bracket in the state wrestling tournament last year, Vancampen has his sights set on finishing higher on the podium this winter.

"I want to be a state champ," Vancampen said. "Whatever it takes to finish on top."

Vancampen and the Northstars will begin the district tournament at Legion Field tonight at 7 p.m. with a game against the Calgary Strive. Before he helps his team try to win a district title, the Havre Daily News asked Vancampen five questions.

HDN: What do you love the most about the game of baseball?

Vancampen: "Competing with my team, winning as a team and hanging out with my friends over the summer."

HDN: What is the hardest part about baseball?

Vancampen: "I think the mental side. There's a lot of ups and downs in baseball. You got to keep a good head when you're playing baseball because, more often than not, it's not going to go your way."

HDN: Out of all the sports you compete in, which one is your favorite?

Vancampen: "Football. It's just the competitiveness of every play. Everyone's got to do their job. If you take one play off, the other team scores a touchdown. So it's just how competitive everyone is for that 48 minutes."

HDN: With a new head coach in Jake Eldridge this fall, have there been any challenges adjusting to the new coaching staff?

Vancampen: "It's almost a whole new coaching staff. There's a lot of new terms and lingo that these guys have thrown at us as well as different expectations which is a good thing. They just want us to succeed as much as we can."

HDN: With all the sports you play, how do you manage being a high school student?

Vancampen: "After the day's done. After I go to practice, workout, go to work, do whatever I need to do during the day, I then go be a high school kid. I hang out with my friends, play video games or whatever it is. I go to the rope swing and go out to the lake during the evenings and sometimes the weekend."