Great Falls Electrics strike North Stars, twice

Havre's Mark Vukasin throws out a runner from third base during the first game of an American Legion doubleheader Sunday at Legion Field. The North Stars dropped a pair of Northern District games to the Great falls Electrics.

One week after playing a wild doubleheader against the rival Great Falls Electrics on the road, the Havre North Stars American Legion baseball team played two more crazy games against one of their biggest rivals.

On Sunday afternoon at Legion Field in Havre, the Electrics swept the North Stars in a Northern District doubleheader. The Ele

Havre's Tyrell Pierce throws home during an American Legion baseball game against the Great Falls Electrics last Sunday in Havre.

ctrics one a high-scoring first game 17-9, then shut down the North Stars 8-1 in the nightcap.

In the opener, the Electrics put up six runs in the first three innings, but the North Stars exploded for a five-run bottom of the third. The big blow for Havre came by way of David Denny, who doubled in two runs to cut the lead to 6-5. The Electrics came right back with four runs in the fourth but the North Stars added four runs by the bottom of the fifth as Gareth Bernard doubled in Justin Jensen in the fourth and Mark Vukasin scored Spencer Morkird with a sacrifice fly and Ned Malone also touched home in the fifth to make the score 10-9 Electrics.

From there however, the North Stars went silent at the plate. In all, Havre got just four hits off Great Falls' pitching and no runs after the fifth while the Electrics pulled away for the win.

Bernard took the loss on the mound for the North Stars, while earning a hit and two RBI. Thurman Holdsclaw had a hit to go along with Denny's double.

While Havre's bats went silent late in the first game, the North Stars were pretty much quiet for all of the second outing on Sunday.

In an 8-1 win, the Electrics kept Havre to just three total hits in the game, and Havre was shut out until the sixth. However, Mark Vukasin pitched a great game for the North Stars on the other side. He shut out the Electrics until they scratched together three runs, two in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Down 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Havre looked to rally after Vukasin singled. He then stole second and Chris Vukasin eventually doubled him in with a blast to center field. Havre had the bases loaded but the rally fell short and the Electrics closed the door with a five-run seventh inning.

Mark Vukasin pitched six solid innings for Havre, striking out five and yielding just four earned runs. He also went 1-for-3 at the dish. The North Stars hits from Chris Vukasin and Brandon Smith.

With the two losses Havre fell to 4-3 in district play and 4-4 overall.

Havre will be back at home next on Wednesday night to take on the Great Falls Hawks in a nonconference game at Legion Field.

GF Electrics 17, North Star 9

Great Falls 303 405 2 – 17 12 3

Havre 005 220 0 – 9 4 4

WP – E. Willis, LP – Gareth Bernard

Havre Batting – Justin Jensen 0-1, Gareth Bernard 1-3 (2 RBI), Brandon Smith 0-4, Mark Vukasin 0-2 (1 RBI), Thurman Holdsclaw 1-4, Spencer Morkrid 0-1 (1 RBI), Jase Kato 0-1, Dane Linquist 0-1, David Denny 1-2 (2 RBI), Ned Malone 0-1, Kody Hickman 0-1, Chance Pitkanen 0-1, Matt Hanley 0-1.

2B – Bernard, Denny

GF Electrics 8, North Stars 1

Great Falls 000 012 5 – 8 6 1

Havre 000 001 0 – 1 3 2

WP – E. Bailey , LP – Mark Vukasin

Havre Batting – Justin Jensen 0-4, Gareth Bernard 0-2, Brandon Smith 1-3, Mark Vukasin 1-3, Thurman Holdsclaw 0-1, Chris Vukasin 1-3 (1 RBI), Ned Malone 0-2, Tyrell Pierce 0-3, Spencer Morkrid 0-3, David Denny 0-1.