Northstars face tough opponents at GVO tourney

The Havre Northstars American Legion baseball club faced some great competition at the Gallatin Valley Tournament this past weekend in Three Forks.

Havre opened the tournament with a pair of difficult losses, as the Northstars fell to the Bitterroot Red Sox 6-5 and the Cody Cubs 13-5.

Game one was a tough for the Northstars. Both teams had no-hit performances through the first few innings of the contest with Colter Solomon eventually pitching five and two-thirds innings with two runs, two hits, and four strikeouts and four walks. Havre exploded for three runs in the fourth inning and Bitterroot reacted with two in the sixth inning. The Northstars scored some insurance runs with two in the top of the seventh inning to lead, 5-2. The Red Sox stormed back and would walk off in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs, including the game-winning sacrifice fly. Terek Shipp and evin Jenkins drove in two runs in the losing effort.

Game two was another tough outing. Havre had multiple ties in the game at 4-4 in the third inning and 5-5 in the fourth inning, but couldn't handle the Cub's offense, which scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to enact the mercy rule. The Northstars did not play their defensive brand of baseball, committing six errors against the Cubs. Shipp was one of five players to have an RBI for Havre along with Solomon, Ezra Pyle, Logan Kinsella, and Connor Essert.

On Saturday, the Northstars bounced back with a 5-inning 11-0 win over the Dillon Cubs. Havre scored in all but one inning. Shortstop Ezra Pyle led the way with three hits, while Tyson Brandon, Shipp, and first and Jevin Jenkins drove in a combined seven runs. Quinn Elliot was stellar on the mound, throwing five innings of one-hit ball and striking out nine Cubs in the process.

The second game on Saturday was tougher for the Northstars as they fell host GVO 3-1. The Outlaws got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. The Northstars got their lone run in the second inning on an RBI by Connor Essert, which scored Logan Kinsella. Shipp was able to keep Gallatin Valley at bay for the remainder of the game with the exception of giving up an insurance run in the fourth inning. He threw a complete game allowing just three hits. Havre had the tying run at the plate, but was retired on a double play to end the game.

The Northstars closed out the GVO Tournament with a dominant win over Lewistown on Sunday. Havre beat the Redbirds 12-2 in five innings.

Chasson Mader got the win on the mound for Havre, while Brandon had two hits and three RBIs.

The Northstars continue tournament action with a trip to Lewistown this Thursday-Sunday.