• Tied 1-1 through nine innings, Chuckers score four in 10th

The Starbuck Stars left nine runners on base during a 5-1 extra-inning loss to Atwater to open up the County Line League playoffs, Sunday afternoon at home.

The Stars, who earned the second seed, led 1-0 through six innings, but Atwater scored one in the seventh to tie up the game and then scored four in the 10th to pull out the dramatic win.

There were a total of 33 strikeouts in the game as Starbuck’s Austin Ver Steeg struck out 15 batters over the first 6 2/3 innings before leaving with the score tied 1-1.

Starbuck moves into the consolation bracket where it play an elimination game this weekend.  Atwater topped Norway Lake-Sunburg in the opening round of the tourney, 8-3, while Paynesville routed NLS, 14-4.  In the other second-round game, Sunday, Paynesville upset Regal, 7-2.

The County Line League playoffs will conclude July 27-28 with the finals, while the Region Tourney is set for Aug. 2-4 and Aug. 9-11. 

Atwater 5, Stars 1

Atwater scored four runs in the 10th inning to earn a 5-1 victory over Starbuck during the County Line League playoffs, Sunday afternoon at Minnewaska Area High School.

The Stars were outhit 11-6 as only two players had hits for Starbuck.

Darion Alexander and Matt Gruber both went 3-for-5 with Alexander also scoring a run and Gruber also recording an RBI and two doubles.

However, the Stars left nine runners on base and also committed five errors, which led to a pair of unearned runs.

Austin Ver Steeg started on the mound for the Stars, but left after 6 2/3 innings with the score tied at 1-1.  He allowed five hits, one unearned run and two walks while striking out 15.

Darion Alexander pitched the next 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs in the 10th, and was credited with the loss.  Nick Lavasseur also pitched one inning, allowing a walk and unearned run.

Josh Kingery and Kobe Holtz both had three hits for the Chuckers, while Doug Kingery added two more.

Doug Kingery was also credited with the win, pitching two innings of relief while giving up one hit with two strikeouts.

Of the 60 outs in the game, 33 came via strikeouts.

Atwater 5, Stars 1, 10 inn

Atwater 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 — 5 11 0

Stars (8-9) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 — 1 6 5

HITTING:  STARS-Darion Alexander 3-for-5, run; Matt Gruber 3-for-5, RBI, 2 doubles  . . . ATWATER-Josh Kingery 3-for-5, run, bb; Kobe Holtz 3-for-4, run, bb, sb; Doug Kingery 2-for-4, run, RBI, sac

PITCHING:  (ip-h-r-er-bb-so):  STARS-Austin Ver Steeg 6 2/3-5-1-0-2-15; Darion Alexander (L, 1-2) 2 1/3-6-3-3-0-4; Nick Lavasseur 1-0-1-0-1-0  . . . ATWATER-Josh Kingery 4 2/3-2-0-0-1-9; K. Holtz 3 1/3-3-1-1-3-3; Doug Kingery (W)  2-1-0-0-0-2

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