Starbuck Jr. Legion improves to 12-6 with six more victories
Sports | Published on July 15, 2024 at 1:39pm CDT
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The Starbuck Jr. Legion had a busy week, going 3-1 during a pair of doubleheaders with Atwater and Spicer. The Jr. Legion split a doubleheader at Atwater last Tuesday, winning the first game 10-0, but falling in the second, 5-4.
One night later, Starbuck hosted Spicer for a makeup doubleheader and Starbuck won both games, 6-5 and 13-2.
The Jr. Legion was 9-6 overall heading into the final week of the regular season. Starbuck also hosted a Jr. Legion Tourney, Saturday and Sunday, winning the 8-team tourney with three victories, including a 6-2 win over Paynesville in the championship game, Sunday morning. Highlights from the tourney will be featured in next week’s paper.
Starbuck is scheduled to host Morris for a doubleheader, Tuesday, July 16 before opening the playoffs, Friday, July 19, most likely at home. Starbuck was 10-7 overall last year, including a 9-3 mark in league play.
• Members of the Starbuck Jr. Legion are AJ Svec, Aron Majerus, Ben Toohey, Braylen Scharmer, Cale Johnsrud, Callum Disrud-Bailey, Connor Erickson, Ethan Jacobs, Gavin Flaten, Harley Johnson, Luke Danielson, Marc Gruber, Miles Wildman, Oliver Vanderhagen, Riley Dell, Tate Anderson and Tyson Metz.
Starbuck 10-4, Atwater 0-5
The Starbuck Jr. Legion split a doubleheader with Atwater last Tuesday. During the 10-0 win, Connor Erickson was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI and Oliver VanderHagen was 2-for-2 with two runs and a walk to lead a six-hit offense.
Adding one hit each were Riley Dell and Tyson Metz, while Ethan Jacobs earned the win on the mound. He allowed two hits and no runs over five innings while striking out four.
Starbuck had 11 walks in the game with Marc Gruber and AJ Svec both coaxing two free passes and Connor Erickson had two stolen bases.
• In the nightcap, Atwater scored the winning run in the bottom-half of the sixth on a passed ball.
Starbuck outhit Atwater 10-4 with Marc Gruber, Luke Danielson and Connor Erickson registering two hits each. Gruber was 2-for-2 with a run and two walks, while Danielson was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Erickson was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Miles Wildman, Tyson Metz, Oliver VanderHagen and Tate Anderson also had hits for Starbuck while Callum Disrud-Bailey took the loss on the mound.
Wildman started on the mound and allowed two hits and one run (none earned) over four innings while striking out seven and walking six.
Disrud-Bailey pitched the final 1 1/3 innings and was credited with the loss.
Starbuck 6-13, Spicer 5-2
The Starbuck Jr. Legion swept a doubleheader from Spicer last Wednesday, including a dramatic 6-5 victory in game one.
The scored was tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the seventh when Luke Danielson singled to send in the winning run.
Tyson Metz had a monster game for Starbuck, going 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Marc Gruber was 2-for-4 with a run, Danielson was 2-for-5 with a run and RBI, and Connor Erickson was 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBI and a walk.
Miles Wildman also had a hit, run scored and walk for the Stars, who went up early 4-2 on a three-run triple by Erickson and an RBI-single by Metz.
Metz had another RBI-single in the sixth to tie up the game at 5-5 after Spicer had taken a 5-4 lead and then Danielson sent home the gamewinner one inning later.
Harley Johnson earned the win on the mound for Starbuck. The reliever allowed one hit and no runs over 1 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking one.
Marc Gruber started on the mound for Starbuck, giving up two hits and five runs (none earned) over 5 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking four.
• The second game was much easier for Starbuck as the Jr. Legion scored eight runs in the second inning to take control of the game.
Harley Johnson started on the mound for Starbuck and earned the win. He pitched the first 3 1/3 innings, giving up two hits, no runs and three walks. AJ Svec pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Marc Gruber, Luke Danielson and Ben Toohey led the Starbuck Jr. Legion with two hits each. Toohey was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI, Danielson was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and RBI and Gruber was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI.
In addition, Connor Erickson was 1-for-3 with three runs, a double, RBI, walk and two stolen bases, making him 7-for-13 for the week with eight runs and eight RBI.
Callum Disrud-Bailey and Tate Anderson also had hits for Starbuck, while Miles Wildman was 0-for-1 with three runs, two walks and two stolen bases.
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