Northstars play well at Magris Invitational

The Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club is in the middle of a busy summer, and that includes the Magris Invitational that took place on Three Forks this past weekend. The Northstars faced some tough competition in five games across three days, but they were able to go 3-2 in the tournament.

The Northstars started the tournament Friday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to the Cody Cubs. The Northstars did start the game on the right foot taking the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Following a single from Conner McKay, Brody Nanini drove in the run with a double to left field. Ezra Pyle then drove in a run with a double to left to make it a 2-0 lead.

But the Cubs responded in the top of the second to tie the game 2-2. Then in the top of the fourth, the Cubs scored a couple of runs to take a 4-2 lead. The Cubs scored again in the top of the sixth to push their lead to 5-2.

The Cubs held the Northstars scoreless the rest of the way to win the game. Only three Northstars recorded hits in the game with Nanini and Pyle recording the only two RBIs. On the mound, Terek Shipp was given the loss as he allowed four hits and five earned runs and he recorded five strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched.

On Saturday morning, the Northstars rebounded with a 12-0 win over the Lewistown Redbirds. After a sluggish offensive output the day before, the Northstars got rolling early to take control. After loading the bases in the top of the first, Shipp hit a single to center to drive in a pair of runs for a 2-0 lead.

After Jevin Jenkins scored to push the lead to 3-0, Shipp scored on a sacrifice fly from Drake Berreth to make it a 4-0 game. Following a single from Kale Reno, Logan Kinsella hit an RBI single to left to push the lead to 5-0.

In the top of the third, the Northstars got on a roll again. With two runners on, Reno hit a single to center to clear the bases to push the lead to 7-0. After a walk, Chason Mader drove in a run with a single to left.

Kinsella scored on a sacrifice fly from Nanini to push the lead to 9-0. Mader then scored on a Lewistown error to add onto the lead. Jenkins capped off the inning with an RBI single to left to give Havre an 11-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Tanner Delarosa scored on a passed ball to push the lead to 12-0. The Northstars then recorded three quick outs in the bottom of the fourth to end the game early. Lane Kinsella picked up the win on the mound as he allowed four hits and no runs and he recorded two strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched.

Several Northstars had strong games at the plate to start the day. Reno went 2-2 with two RBIs and Berreth went 2-3 with two RBIs. Jenkins also went 2-2 with an RBI.

The Northstars capped off Saturday with an 8-1 win over the Gallatin Valley Outlaws. The Outlaws took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but the Northstars responded in the top of the third. McKay tied the game with an RBI single to left. Later in the inning, Shipp gave Havre the lead with an RBI single to center.

The Northstars increased their lead in the top of the fourth. McKay scored on a Gallatin Valley error. Shipp then scored on a fielder’s choice to push Havre’s lead to 4-1.

The Northstars continued to roll in the top of the seventh. McKay scored on a passed ball to start the inning and Colter Solomon drove in a run with a single to push the lead to 6-1. Reno then scored on an Outlaw error to add onto the lead. Nanini capped off the inning with an RBI single to left to give Havre an 8-1 lead.

The Northstars recorded the final three outs in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Jenkins earned the win as he allowed seven hits, one earned run and he recorded three strikeouts as he pitched all seven innings. At the plate, Shipp went 3-4 with an RBI and McKay went 2-3 with an RBI.

The Northstars continued the tournament Sunday morning with a 3-2 loss to the Bitterroot Red Sox. It was slow going for both teams to start the game, but the Red Sox broke through in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.

The Northstars could not score through the first six innings. But with only three outs left in the top of the seventh, they finally broke through. With two runners on, Nanini cleared the bases with a single to center to tie the game.

However, a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh gave the Red Sox the walk off victory. While the Northstars lost, Reno had a solid game pitching as he allowed four hits, two earned runs and recorded four strikeouts in the start. At the plate, Pyle went 3-4 and McKay went 2-4 for the Northstars.

The Northstars capped off the tournament with a 9-1 win over the Dillon Cubs Sunday afternoon. They got off to a quick start in the top of the first to take control. After getting on base thanks to an error, Shipp scored on a fielder’s choice to give Havre the lead. Later in the inning with two runners on, Berreth cleared the bases with a double to center to push the lead to 3-0.

The Cubs responded with a run in the bottom of the first, but the Northstars continued to roll. After loading the bases to start the top of the second, Solomon scored on a passed ball. Shipp then drove in another run with a single to right. Nanini scored on a passed ball to push the lead to 6-1.

Shipp scored on an error to add onto the lead. Reno then drove in another run with a single to center. Mader capped off the inning with an RBI single to right to give Havre a 9-1 lead. The Northstars held the Cubs scoreless the rest of the way to win in five innings.

Nanini picked up the win pitching as he allowed three hits and one earned run in 4.0 innings pitched. At the plate, Shipp and McKay both went 2-4 with an RBI. Berreth also made an impact going 1-3 with two RBIs.

With their performance in the tournament, the Northstars now have a record of 13-10-1 this season. The Havre Northstars will look to improve on that record when they head north of the border to play the Medicine Hat Knights in a doubleheader Tuesday night starting at 5 p.m.

Cody 5, Havre 2

COD 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 - 5 5 1

HAV 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 3 0

WP - B. Reinker

LP - Terek Shipp

Havre Batting - Drake Berreth 0-4, Kale Reno 0-3, Conner McKay 1-3, Brody Nanini 1-3, Ezra Pyle 1-2, Tanner Delarosa 0-2, Terek Shipp 0-1, Tyson Brandon 0-2, Colter Solomon 0-2, Chason Mader 0-2, Jevin Jenkins 0-1.

Havre 12, Lewistown 0

HAV 5 0 6 1 X X X - 12 11 1

LEW 0 0 0 0 X X X - 0 4 1

WP - Lane Kinsella

LP - A. Kuhlmann

Havre Batting - Brody Nanini 1-3, Ezra Pyle 0-4, Conner McKay 1-2, Jevin Jenkins 2-2, Terek Shipp 2-3, Drake Berreth 0-1, Tanner Delarosa 1-1, Kale Reno 2-2, Colter Solomon 0-0, Logan Kinsella 1-2, Chason Mader 1-2.

Havre 8, Gallatin Valley 1

HAV 0 0 2 0 2 0 4 - 8 12 0

GV 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 7 2

WP - Jevin Jenkins

LP - M. Engbretson

Havre Batting - Brody Nanini 2-4, Ezra Pyle 0-5, Conner McKay 2-3, Jevin Jenkins 2-3, Terek Shipp 3-4, Drake Berreth 1-4, Kale Reno 1-3, Colter Solomon 1-3, Tyson Brandon 0-4.

Bitterroot 3, Havre 2

HAV 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 2 8 2

BIT 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 - 3 5 1

WP - B. Brenneman

LP - Colter Solomon

Havre Batting - Brody Nanini 1-4, Ezra Pyle 3-4, Conner McKay 2-4, Jevin Jenkins 0-2, Terek Shipp 0-3, Drake Berreth 0-3, Tanner Delarosa 1-2, Tyson Brandon 0-1, Chason Mader 1-3.

Havre 9, Dillon 1

HAV 3 6 0 0 0 X X - 9 8 1

DIL 1 0 0 0 0 X X - 1 3 8

WP - Brody Nanini

LP - D. Skradski

Havre Batting - Brody Nanini 0-3, Terek Shipp 2-4, Conner McKay 2-4, Ezra Pyle 1-4, Kale Reno 1-3, Drake Berreth 1-3, Logan Kinsella 0-3, Colter Solomon 0-0, Chason Mader 1-2.