Rain dampens Northstar jamboreeNorthstars gain revenge on Gallatin Valley; also beat Dillon

Rain dampens Northstar jamboree

Northstars gain revenge on Gallatin Valley; also beat Dillon

The Havre Northstars got the revenge they desired Friday night in Game 11 of the 2002 Baseball Jamboree at Legion Field.

Playing in their second straight game, the Northstars faced virtually the same Gallatin Valley team that beat Havre at last year's state tournament. This game was perhaps the game the Northstars were looking forward to the most.

As player Danny Wirtzberger said after Thursday's games, "We're going to get them back. We're going to take it to them."

With the help of three insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Northstars won 7-2. The Northstars also won their first game, beating Dillon 7-2.

The Northstars didn't play again in the tournament, which was canceled after one game Saturday due to heavy rains.

Havre jumped out to an early first-inning lead against Gallatin Valley as third baseman Ian Spencer belted a bases-loaded two-run single, driving home Adam Jensen and Wirtzberger.

Dusty Heath, who reached base on a walk, also scored in the inning on a balk.

Guarding a 3-1 lead, Northstars pitcher Eric Lipp walked his team into some troubles. Lipp walked the first two batters of the inning and hit the third to load the bases. Gallatin Valley third baseman Jeff Darlington followed with an RBI single to right-center field.

Pitcher Wally Sales was responsible for the first out of the inning as he flew out to right field.

Jeff Miller flew out to center field, allowing Steve Darlington to tag up from third base and score. Lance Cardwell, who was at second base, advanced to third on the play. Jensen, the Havre catcher, attempted to throw Cardwell out at third but the throw sailed into left field. Cardwell scored and Gallatin Valley took a 4-3 lead.

The runs were erased as Lipp appealed the play at third base and Darlington was called out for leaving the base too early, which ended the inning.

Jensen added a run in the fifth inning as a throw by Sales landed in the right-field corner. Jensen raced to third base and, on the second error of the play, was able to sprint home for Havre's fourth run.

The Northstars scored three more runs on three errors and only two hits. Tyler VanderMars, who later scored in the inning, and Steve Heberly each delivered RBI singles in the inning.

Wirtzberger led the Northstars with a 3-for-4 game and one run scored. VanderMars followed with a 2-for-3 game with a run scored and an RBI.

Lipp pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and striking out seven.

Against Dillon, the Northstars scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth and three in the sixth to seal a 7-2 win.

Havre scored its three runs in the sixth without virtue of a hit. The Northstars had two walks and Dillon aided the effort with two errors and a passed ball.

Tyler Thompson laced a two-run single to right in the fourth inning for Havre. Thompson's single was his lone hit of the game. He also walked and had a sacrifice bunt.

Thompson drove home Daine Solomon and Bobby Bergren on the play. Both reached on infield singles and were moved to scoring position on a bunt by Ian Spencer.

Havre's other two runs came in the third inning. Heberly and Jensen had back-to-back RBI singles in the inning.

Dillon's Collin Hilton doubled home Dusty Case in the first for the Cubs. Kyle Burwell scored Dillon's other run in the fourth inning. Burwell reached base after being hit by a pitch. He stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.

Hilton and Case led the way for the Cubs, each with 2-for-3 games. Hilton drove in one, and Case scored once.

Heberly and Jensen each had 2-for-4 efforts for Havre. Heberly scored twice and drove in one, and Jensen scored once.

Doug Ireland pitched a complete game for the win. He struck out 10 and allowed five hits.

Dillon

100

100

0

2

5 3

Havre Northstars 002 203 x 7 8 1

Kyle Tash and Kyle Burwell; Doug Ireland and Adam Jensen. W Ireland. L Tash.

Havre Northstars

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013

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7

9 1

Gallatin Valley 010 100 0 2 4 5

Eric Lipp and Adam Jensen; Wally Sales and Cory Smith. W Lipp. L Sales.