VAUXHALL, Alberta With a couple players unable to make the trip, Havre manager Mickey Williams was forced to juggle his lineup a bit.
With Jared Boyce across the Atlantic Ocean playing hockey and Danny Wirtzberger attending a football camp, Williams adjusted the top five batters in his lineup.
The moves paid big dividends.
Havre tore up Vauxhall for a 14-1 win in the first game and a 16-1 win in the nightcap for a dominating sweep in an American Legion doubleheader Wednesday.
Among the moves Williams made to account for the missing players:
Jordan Anderson was moved from the No. 2 hole to the leadoff spot and finished the twinbill 5-for-9 with five runs scored and two runs batted in.
Garrett Hanson, who improved his hitting streak to 11 games, was a combined 4-for-8 with two home runs, six runs scored and four RBI behind Anderson in the lineup.
Kyle Sheppard, typically the team's cleanup hitter, enjoyed five hits, three runs and three RBI out of the No. 3 spot.
David Knight drove in four runs in two games after moving up a spot in the batting order to No. 4.
Dustin Heath was 4-for-8 with three RBI in the fifth spot in the order.
Combined, the top five batters in the lineup went 22-for-45 (.489) with 17 runs scored and 16 RBI.
In the first game, Havre broke up a 1-1 tie with four runs in the third, highlighted by Hanson's two-run homer. The Northstars had five hits and capitalized on an error to take a 5-1 lead.
Havre later added six runs in the sixth on three hits and two Vauxhall errors to blow the game open and take a 13-run lead. Kevin Jurenka, who was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI, had a two-run double in the inning.
Havre starting pitcher Eric Lipp gave up just one run on six hits and two walks. He struck out seven.
In the second game, Havre continued the onslaught on Vauxhall pitching.
Hanson's two-run homer in the first got Havre off to a quick start and a 2-0 lead.
Havre laid the hammer down in the second, sending 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run inning to take a 9-0 lead. Knight drove in two runs with a one-out single to highlight the inning for the Northstars, who had six hits in the inning.
Knight was in command on the mound for Havre, surrendering just one run on five hits and no walks. He also struck out four in five innings.
FIRST GAME
Havre
014
126
14
12
1
Vauxhall
010
000
1
6
6
Lipp and Hanson; Vauxhall battery not reported. HR H, Hanson.
SECOND GAME
Havre
273
40
16
17
1
Vauxhall
000
01
1
5
0
Knight and Hanson; Vauxhall batter not reported. HR H, Hanson.
Northstars 1-2 in Williston
WILLISTON, N.D. Havre was not able to consistently pitch or hit well, and that factor alone cost the Northstars as they dropped two of three games in the Williston American Legion baseball tournament last weekend.
SIOUX FALLS 6, HAVRE 3 The Northstars were able to muster just five hits against the South Dakota team.
Havre's 4-5-6 hitters were a combined 0-for-9 in the game.
HAVRE 5, GILLETTE 4 David Knight was a workhorse for Havre, pitching 10 innings for the Northstars and also added two hits and three RBI against the Wyoming squad.
Knight struck out 13 and walked just two.
Kyle Sheppard, who had two RBI, and Jordan Anderson both had three hits for Havre.
WILLISTON 10, HAVRE 9 Havre's Anderson and Danny Wirtzberger each finished 2-for-4 in the defeat.
Sheppard was roughed up on the mound by the host Keybirds, giving up nine earned runs on 10 hits in seven innings. The Northstars pitcher struck out six and walked two.
