Friday, July 1 

at Marthaler Field

Starbuck 3

Atwater 1

Both teams were strong on the pitcher’s mound Friday, but Starbuck Stars defeated Atwater 3-1 in a County Line League game that solidified the Stars with the second seed in the playoffs.

Starbuck pitchers Matt Gruber and Austin VerSteeg combined to allow just seven hits to Atwater.  Gruber started on the mound and lasted six innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out eight and walking just one batter.    VerSteeg threw two and two-thirds innings in relief of Gruber and recorded the last eight outs to earn the save for the Stars.  

Michael Gruber, Jackson Hendrickson, Matt Gruber, Drew Olsonawski, Darion Alexander and Mike Andreas each managed one hit to lead Stars at the plate.  

Hitting – Starbuck Stars: Michael Gruber 1-4 2B 1r, Darion Alexander 1-3, Alex Panitzke 1r,  Matt Gruber 1-3,1BB, Aaron VerSteeg 0-3 1RBI, Mike Andreas 1-4, Jackson Hendrickson 1-4, 2 RBI, Drew Olsonawski 1-3,1r.  

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so). Starbuck Stars-Matt Gruber 6-5-1-1-1-8; Austin 2.2-2-0-0-1-8.  

Wednesday, July 6

At Marthaler Field

Starbuck 1

Breckenridge 0

The Starbuck Stars shutout Breckenridge on the home field on Wednesday 1-0. The Starbuck pitching duo of Andrew Toop and Torii Johnson combined for nine scoreless frames and 11 strikeouts to shut out Breckenridge at Marthaler Park in Glenwood.

Despite being outhit by Breckenridge 4-2, Starbuck’s winning run came in the seventh inning as Aaron VerSteeg reached home on a Bucks fielding error.

Hitting – Starbuck: Aaron VerSteeg 1-3 r, Mike Andreas 1-3.

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Starbuck: Andrew Toop (W) 6-3-0-0-3-5, Torii Johnson 3-1-0-0-2-6…Breckenridge: Wamre 6-1-0-0-3-5, Mitch Porter (L) 2-1-1-0-1-1…Aaron VerSteeg and Mike Andreas each had one hit to lead the Stars on offense and it was enough to get one run and the win.

Saturday, July 9

At Marthaler Field

Starbuck 2 

Willmar 4

The Stars stayed in the game until the end, but Willmar pulled away late in a 4-2 victory at the home field on Saturday.  

Willmar evened things up at two in the top of the seventh on their way to the victory.

Aaron VerSteeg pitched for the Stars going six innings and not allowing a run on four hits.  He struck out six and walked one.  Mitchell Gruber and Darion Alexander entered the game in relief, throwing two innings and one inning respectively.

Jackson Hendrickson, Matt Gruber, Torii Johnson, Drew Olsonawski, Alexander, Mike Andreas and Jared Freese all had one hit for the Stars. Alexander also had two stolen bases for the Stars.

Sunday, July 10

At Marthaler Field

Starbuck 3 

Paynesville 2

The Stars seized victory in dramatic walk-off fashion, thanks to a walk-off single at the end of the game to topple Paynesville 3-2 on the home field to finish the regular season.

The game was tied at 2 in the bottom of the 10th when Darion Alexander singled to score the winning run.

The Stars trailed going into the bottom of the ninth when Austin VerSteeg doubled to score two runs and tied the game.

Michael Gruber earned the win for the Stars.  Gruber shutdown the Paynesville Pirates not allowing a hit or a run.

Austin VerSteeg and Drew Olsonawski entered the game out of the bullpen to help the victory. Matt Gruber started on the mound for the Stars and went four innings, allowing two runs on seven hits.  He struck out five.

The Stars tallied eight hits in the game.  Alexander and Gruber each had two hits to lead the Stars at the plate.