North Stars drop a twin bill in Great Falls

Fresh off a successful tournament at home, the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball club found the going tough on the road.

Tuesday afternoon at Centene Stadium in Great Falls, the North Stars were swept in a Northern A District doubleheader by the league-leading Great Falls Electrics.

In game one, Havre was shut down by Electric's pitcher Tanner Lee, 7-2, and in the nightcap, the North Stars lost a heartbreaker, 6-5.

In the first game, Havre was out-hit 8-6, but North Star starter Brandon Smith pitched well. However, with the game close, the Electrics busted out for three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the North Stars away.

At the plate, Smith led the way going 2-for-4 for Havre, while Justin Jensen, Chris Vukasin, Kolby Sukut and Mark Vukasin added hits.

Jensen was on the mound for Havre in the second game, and like Smith, pitched well.

And trailing 3-0 after three innings, the North Stars exploded for four runs in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. But the Great Falls' bats once again overcame, scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a come-from-behind win.

Sukut, Jensen and Smith all went 2-for-4 for the North Stars, with Jensen and Sukut recording doubles. Catcher Thurman Holdsclaw also had a big second game with a 3-for-4 performance and two RBIs.

The two losses dropped Havre to 3-5 in district play and 8-7 overall. The Electrics are a perfect 7-0 in district play.

Havre is back on the road at the Gallatin Valley Tournament in Three Forks Friday-Sunday.