North Stars split games with Fort MacLeod

After a weekend spent in Billings, where the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team played five games, the North Stars continued their daunting, nearly one month long road trip on Tuesday.

Tuesday the North Stars played a league doubleheader in Canada against the Fort McLeod Royals. And in the two games, the North Stars and Royals appeared to be very well matched as havre earned the split. The North Stars won the first game 3-1, but lost the nightcap 4-0.

Havre has been amongst the conference leaders all season long, but the Royals have also garnered a lot of attention early on. But the North Stars will continue their hunt for a state tournament berth as they improved to 8-4 in league play this season.

In game one of the doubleheader, the North Stars got the shutout win behind the high powered arm of Brando Smith on the mound. Smith has been nearly lights out all season long, but also got a little help from his offense. Thurman Holdsclaw had a standout weekend in Billings and continued the high level of play with a couple of timely hits and two RBIs. Tyrell Pierce also had a solid day, but in the outfield, making a handful of key plays according to North Star head coach Danny Wirtzberger.

In the second game loss, the North Star bats just couldn't stay productive.

Mark Vukasin took the mound for Havre and pitched a solid game, but just didn't get the support he needed to earn the win. The North Star offense struggled against a dominating lefty, but coach Wirtzberger said he was still satisfied with the split against a tope tier team that made the state tournament a season ago.

The road trip isn't going to get any easier for the North Stars. After a two game split against the Royals, the North Stars will remain in Canada to face the Lethbridge Miners in another league doubleheader on Wednesday. Havre then travels to Three Forks for a tournament Friday through Sunday.