George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com
Falls Stallions in the first round of the Northern District American Legion Baseball Tournament, the Havre Northstars are now just one win away from getting back to the Class A tournament. Ironically, it is the Stallions who now stand in Havre’s way as the two teams square off in an elimination game this afternoon at Centene Stadium in Great Falls. The Northstars reached today’s elimination game by staging a late comeback on Monday night against the Lethbridge Miners in 11-7 win. Havre also beat Lewistown 13-3 earlier in the day. Monday’s sweep meant Havre has won three straight elimination games since losing to the Stallions on Saturday night. Against Lethbridge, Logan Reichelt crushed a three-run homerun in the eighth inning to help the Northstars reclaim the lead and go on to victory in a slugfest in which the two teams combined for 32 hits. The Northstars led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, with starter Sean Peterson on cruise control. But the Miners scored four times in the inning to lead 7-6, setting the stage for Reichelt's dramatic homer. In all, Havre scored five times in the last two innings to win going away. The Northstars’ offense hammered out 20 hits in the game, and Reichelt went 4-for-6 with a double a homerun and five RBIs. Ryan Callahan, Jeremiah Moog and Austin Small added three hits each for the Northstars. Seth Jensen picked up the win for Havre in his second appearance of the tourney. Jensen came on in relief of Peterson in the eighth inning. Winning elimination games has become old hat for the Northstars this weekend in Great Falls. On Monday morning, Havre dispatched Lewistown 13-3 to stay alive in the tournament. Anthony Wirtzberger pitched a sixhitter and allowed just two runs in a nine-inning gem, and the Northstars’ offense gave Wirtzberger plenty of room to maneuver. Havre harassed Lewistown pitching to the tune of 16 hits, led by Reichelt, Moog and Callahan, who all went 3-for-4 at the dish and combined to drive in six of Havre’s 13 runs. Moog had the big bat, hammering two doubles on the day. Scott Ladenburg, who has also played well throughout the tourney, also drove in three runs, and Peterson, Bryan Heath, Small and Scott Vigliotti added RBIs as well. If Havre (43-16) avenges its loss to the Stallions (31-20), the Northstars will advance to the championship game later this afternoon against Vauxhall, as well as punch their ticket to the state tournament later this week. Vauxhall (30-4) is the only team that has not lost in the district tournament, meaning either Havre or Great Falls will have to beat the Spurs twice in order to claim the district championship. Vauxhall has not lost to a league opponent this season.
