Lakers get important win against Havre

By Lethbridge Herald on June 24, 2025.

Austin Borthwick of the Lethbridge Lakers pops a ball up during Montana-Alberta American Legion “A” baseball action at Lloyd Nolan Yard on Tuesday afternoon.

By Nathan Reiter

Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Lethbridge Lakers picked up an important 5-3 win over the Havre Northstars in Montana-Alberta “A” American Legion conference play on Tuesday afternoon at Lloyd Nolan Yard.

The win improves the Lakers record in conference play to 4-11, while Havre drops to 9-2.

Lakers head coach Lucas Puszkar says it was a complete team effort for Lethbridge in the victory.

“It was all 15 of them today. The energy on the bench, our starter Declan Brinsmead was outstanding, and then the big one for today was the little things. Ground balls, scoring runs, moving guys over, it was real baseball. That’s all we can ask, they played outstanding.”

Grady Knoblich would score the first run of the game for the Lakers in the bottom half of the first inning as he came in to score on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Austin Borthwick.

Havre would strike back in the top half of the second inning as Michael Thompson would cash in with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Quinn Elliott.

Lethbridge would respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Kade Hamilton would score Solomon Olsen with an RBI single. The next batter Railey De Mateo would add an RBI with a walk.

The Lakers would manufacture an extra pair of runs in the third inning with a Rhett Otrhalek RBI groundout and a two out single off the bat of Nate Oberg.

Havre would get closer with a Tyson Brandon RBI single in the fifth inning and a passed ball in the seventh.

Declan Brinsmead earned the win on the bump for Lethbridge as the right hander worked six and two thirds innings. He allowed three runs, two earned on nine hits and two walks.

Puszkar says Brinsmead was throwing strikes throughout his outing which made him effective.

“That’s been his thing all year. He just fills it up. I think this is now his third complete game, win or loss third. That’s just so big in a 50 game season like this that we play. He just finds a way to get us ground balls, get us fly balls, strike out the odd guy. He’s been our guy and he’s going to continue to be for sure.”

Cooper Norsworthy would come out of the bullpen and earn the save for the Lakers striking out Havre right fielder Connor Essert looking after a lengthy nine pitch at bat with the tying run on first base.

The Lakers return to action on Thursday night when they welcome the Lewistown Redbirds (5-3) for a doubleheader at Lloyd Nolan Yard.