Photo courtesy of Medicine Hat American Legion Baseball

By Scott Roblin

Staying Alive

Knights knock off North Stars to advance at North Districts

Jul 20, 2019 | 2:22 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The hunt for a Montana state title remains in reach for the Medicine Hat ‘A’ K of C Knights, staying alive at North Districts.

After knocking off the Fort Macleod Royals in their first game in the ‘B’ bracket on Friday, the Knights picked up a 9-3 victory over the Havre North Stars in Saturday’s early morning contest.

Facing elimination against Havre, Medicine Hat jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Kaitlyn Ross was plunked at the plate with the bases loaded, before Carson Sauter grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Evan Morrison.

Havre was quick to answer back with a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the first, tying the game up at 2-2 after one inning complete.

Medicine Hat’s fortunes were able to change in the top of the third however, with Sauter connecting on a ground ball to left field to score Hayden Hall to retake the lead.

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An error, a walk, and a Ben van der Sloot sacrifice-fly added three more runs for the Knights to lead 6-2, before Morrison took the North Stars to right field for an RBI single of his own.

The Knights stretched their lead to six runs in the top of the fifth inning, with Josh Stark scoring from third base on a pass ball.

A Cole Rath single in the sixth made it a 9-2 contest for Medicine Hat, but the North Stars were able to get that run back following a fielding error from Rath that allowed one run to score.

Medicine Hat made quick work of Havre in the bottom of the seventh however, turning a double-play before Kelden Sullivan flew out to Rath at short stop to put a ribbon on the playoff contest.

Sauter and Rath both had a pair of RBIs in the Knights victory, while on the mound Morrison pitched a complete game with just two earned runs allowed with four strikeouts.

Advancing North Districts bracket, the Knights will be back at Jeffries Field on Saturday night with a berth in the ‘B’ final on the line.

They’ll face the Lethbridge Miners in an elimination game at 6:00 pm, with the winner facing either the Lewistown Redbirds or Vauxhall Spurs in the ‘B’ final.

Lewistown and Vauxhall meanwhile are facing off in the ‘A’ bracket final at 3:00 pm, which will send one of the two American Legion squads through to the North Division championship game.