Ryan Divish
Havre Daily News Sports Editor
rdivish@havredailynews.com
The Havre Northstars moved to 4-0 in Northern District standings with a sweeping conference doubleheader over the Great Falls Sparkies Sunday at Don Olsen Memorial field in Great Falls.
The Northstars pounded out 30 runs and 29 hits in two games to break out of a mild offensive slump.
In the opening game, Havre used a six-run second inning to grab an early lead and pick up a 18-3 win in five innings. Austin Small and Josh Lowe each ripped two-run singles in the inning to get the Northstars started.
The early lead was all Northstar starter Ben Erickson would need. He pitched five solid innings, allowing just three runs on four hits, while striking out five.
Havre also had a big fourth inning, scoring eight runs on five hits. Small picked up his second two-run single of the game, while Ben Erickson, Patch Wirtzberger and Scott Ladenburg each had RBI singles.
Small finished with two hits and four RBIs, while Wirtzberger was 3-3 with two RBIs. Erickson helped his own cause with a pair of hits and three RBIs.
In the nightcap, Havre was equally adept at the plate, ripping 16 hits in a 12-3 win.
Havre rolled to a 5-0 lead after three innings, picking up runs in the first two innings and three in the third. Small continued his torrid pace with RBI single in the first and a two-run single in the third. Jess McLain added a run-scoring double.
The lead ballooned in the next two innings as Ben Erickson and Jeff Tibbals had RBI doubles and Wirtzberger and Sean Peterson added RBI singles.
The offensive fireworks were plenty for Small, who pitched all seven innings, allowing nine hits, but just three runs to get the win. He also had two hits and 3 RBIs. Tibbals had three doubles and scored three runs, while Peterson, Wirtzberger, Erickson, Castloo and McLain had two hits each.
The two wins were big considering the start the Northstars had to the weekend. Havre was shutout for the first time in a year, falling to the Class AA Great Falls Electrics 10-0.
Havre managed just five hits in the loss, while Great Falls raked over Northstar pitchers for 12 hits. Small led the Havre offense with two hits.
Great Falls AA 10, Havre 0
Havre Northstars 000 000 0 - 0 5 1
Great Falls Electrics 012 300 4 - 10 12 1
Chase Castloo (6), Jeff Tibbals (1) and Patch Wirtzberger; Eric Bloomfield and Levi Johnson.
WP - Bloomfield; LP - Castloo.
NORTHSTARS HITTING - Sean Peterson 1-3, Patch Wirtzberger 0-3; Ben Erickson 1-3; Chase Castloo 0-3; Austin Small 2-3; Jeff Tibbals 0-3; John Christian 0-3; Scott Ladenburg 0-2; Eric Fanning 1-2.
ELECTRICS HITTING - Justin King 2-5; Levi Johnson 1-4; Kevin Corwin 2-3; Kody Swartz 1-4; Jared Jacobsen 103; Shaun Tatarka 104; Nic Wingerter 1-3; Jeff Paul 2-3; Ryan Egan 1-3.
2B - Johnson, Tatarka, Paul
3B - King, Egan
HR - none
Havre 18, Great Falls A 3
Havre Northstars 064 80 - 18 13 1
Great Falls Sparkies 003 00 - 3 4 3
Ben Erickson and Patch Wirtzberger; Lei Xu (1), Reid Tramille (2), Sean Doran (1), Tyler Brinka and Taylor Fesrada.
WP - Erickson; LP - Xu.
NORTHSTARS HITTING - Sean Peterson 1-4 (RBI); Patch Wirtzberger 3-3 (2 RBI); Ben Erickson 2-3 (2 RBI); Chase Castloo 0-3 (2 RBI); Austin Small 2-4 (4 RBI); Scott Ladenburg 1-4 (RBI); Jeff Tibbals 2-2 (RBI); Eric Fanning 1-3; Josh Lowe 1-2 (2 RBI).
SPARKIES HITTING - Tiger Shanahan 0-3; Zach Semenza 0-1; Ryan Beecroft 1-2; Nick Taylor 0-1; Jake Tucker 1-2; Austin Crismah 0-1; Cody Dodson 1-2; Taylor Fesrada 0-2; Darren Haldig 0-2; Joe Samensky 0-2; Sean Doran 1-1; Tyler Brinka 0-1.
2B - Erickson, Tucker
3B - none
HR - none
Havre 12, Great Falls A 3
Havre Northstars 113 241 0 - 12 16 0
Great Falls Sparkies 020 010 0 - 3 9 4
Austin Small and Josh Morse; Cody Dodson (6), Joe Samensky (1) and Tyler Brinka.
WP - Small; LP - Dodson.
NORTHSTARS HITTING - Sean Peterson 2-3 (RBI); Patch Wirtzberger 2-5 (RBI); Ben Erickson 2-5 (RBI); Austin Small 2-4 (3 RBI); Scott Ladenburg 0-2; Richard Jarvis 0-2; Chase Castloo 2-4; Jeff Tibbals 3-4 (RBI); Jess McLain 2-4 (2 RBI); Josh Morse 1-4.
SPARKIES HITTING - Tiger Shanahan 0-2; Lei Xu 0-1; Zach Semenza 1-3; Ryan Beecroft 2-3; Jake Tucker 1-3; Cody Dodson 2-3; Tyler Brinka 2-3; Colin Eagen 0-2; Jordan Smith 0-1; Austin Crismah 0-2; Jake Meierhoff 0-1; Sean Doran 1-3.
2B - Erickson 2; Tibbals 3; McLain, Tucker
3B - none
HR - none
