North Stars headed to Canada

Things haven't been easy for the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team the last 10 days. And they won't get any easier this weekend either.

However, the North Stars will use this weekend's road trip to Canada as a chance to get things turned around and hopefully, creep back into the Northern A district race.

Havre comes into Saturday's doubleheader at Medicine Hat having lost eight of its last nine games. That stretch includes Wednesday's sweep at the hands of Northern A front runner Fort MacLeod at Legion Field, as well as four losses at last weekend's prestigious Gallatin Valley Tournament in Three Forks. Overall, the North Stars have slipped to 9-13 on the season, but more importantly, they have fallen back to 3-7 in district play.

And while Wednesday's losses to the Royals at home were tough on the North Stars, Havre does come into this weekend's four-game road trip swinging the bats well. Against Fort MacLeod, the North Stars combined to belt 17 hits, and they scored nine runs in the nightcap of the twin bill. Leadoff hitter Justin Jensen, as well as Colt Young, Brandon Smith and Kolby Sukut all swung the bats particularly well for Havre against the Royals, and with the North Stars facing two of the younger teams in the league this weekend, hitting could be at a premium as Havre has struggled somewhat in that area in conference play.

Saturday will be the first time Havre has faced Medicine Hat this season, but having a Class AA a team, the Class A Knights generally field a younger, inexperienced, but always talented club. And after two games against Medicine Hat, the North Stars will venture even further north to face the Vauxhall Spurs. The North Stars bested the Spurs in a nonconference outing two weeks ago in Havre, and while traditionally a Northern A power, Vauxhall is exceptionally young this season. So this weekend's road trip could serve to be a turning point in Havre's season.

After Havre plays the Knights and Spurs this weekend, the North Stars will return home for a conference doubleheader with the league leading Great Falls Electrics on June 28.