Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Eli Cloninger Havre Baseball

The Havre Northstars American Legion baseball team is about to hit the heart of its district schedule, and if the team is going to make some noise in the Northern A District this season, it will need young players to step up, players like Eli Cloninger.

Cloninger, who also played golf last fall for Havre High, as well as basketball, is entering his second season of Legion baseball. During 2018, his first with the Norhtstars, Cloninger logged 20 games but this season, after a year under his belt, his role should expand.

Of course, with the 14-man roster that head coach Patch Wirtzberger has to work with, just about everyone is going to have to be versatile. That's just the reality of Legion baseball in Montana and Cloninger is no different. He played in a utility role last season, seeing some time in both the infield and outfield. It will be a similar story this season for Cloninger, who is most familiar at second base and will also be counted on as a pitcher this season too, already notching an appearance in which he tossed 2.5 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. His ERA is 3.75.

While Cloninger is still getting accustomed to Legion baseball, he has grown up and been around the game his entire life. His father, Randy Cloninger, has been an active member of Havre Youth Baseball for years and spent a lot of time coaching both Cloninger and his brother Tyrel Kjersem, who is also currently playing for the Northstars and was on the team last season.

"We have grown up playing together," Eli Cloninger said. "My dad has coached me a lot growing up and that's always been fun."

Often times, when players move up a level in baseball, one of the toughest things to do get used to is the pitching. Lots of Northstars have mentioned that adjustment over the years and last season, Cloninger went through that as well. Yet, in limited at-bats, he performed well, especially when it came to getting on base.

Cloninger hit .297 last season with two doubles in 49 plate appearances. He also drove in four runs and scored six times. However, his most impressive statistic was his .422 on-base percentage, which was the seventh-best mark on the team. He drew seven walks and reached base safely 10 times without getting a hit.

This season, Cloninger is having similar success getting on base, as he is doing it at a .407 percent clip right now, even though his batting average is just .188. Despite that, he is still tied for fifth on the team in runs scored and fourth on the team in RBI's.

Certainly, it's hard to judge a season on just six games and that's why it's important to remember that the Northstars season is still in its infancy. The team has played just two district games thus far, which will change this weekend as the Northstars get ready for a four-game homestand.

Havre will host Fort MacLeod for a double dip Saturday, followed by a doubleheader against Medicine Hat Sunday. All four games will be played at Legion Field. The first pitch will go out at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, things are set to begin at 1 p.m.

Those games are the start of a busy stretch of baseball for the Northstars. But before they take on their district rivals from the North this weekend, the Havre Daily News caught up with Cloninger for five questions.

HDN: What got you into playing baseball?

Cloninger: "I just enjoy playing sports and getting outside. I don't like sitting around indoors and playing video games. I like getting out and being active."

HDN: What do you like about being on the Northstars?

Cloninger: "I like getting the chance to work with some of the younger kids like in camps and stuff. I like being a role model and it's also just fun to play up at a higher level."

HDN: "What is the biggest adjustment going up to Legion baseball?

Cloninger: "The players are better. The pitching is one of the hardest things to get used to. The pitchers throw harder but they also hit their spots better and have better control."

HDN: What did you learn the most from that first season?

Cloninger: "I think just getting used to a different level. I got used to some of the pitching and the speed of it. I am more used to that now."

HDN: What is your goal for this season?

Cloninger: "We want to win districts this year. We want to go further and win more games than we did last year."