Cubs stunned by Stars in state surprise
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Courtland Cubs catcher Jackson Bode looks to first after a Starbuck runner gets on base during a Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament first-round game Saturday night at New Prague Memorial Park Baseball Stadium.
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Courtland's Nolan Drill collects a hit during a Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament first-round game against Starbuck on Saturday night at New Prague Memorial Park Baseball Stadium.
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Courtland Cubs catcher Jackson Bode looks to first after a Starbuck runner gets on base during a Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament first-round game Saturday night at New Prague Memorial Park Baseball Stadium.
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Courtland's Nolan Drill collects a hit during a Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament first-round game against Starbuck on Saturday night at New Prague Memorial Park Baseball Stadium.
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NEW PRAGUE - Despite overcoming a 4-0 deficit late to tie the game in the eighth, the Courtland Cubs were unable to prevent the Starbuck Stars from leaving Memorial Park Baseball Stadium with a state tournament upset Saturday night.
After allowing the Cubs to tie the game at 4-all with a four-run bottom of the eighth, the Stars got four runs back in the ninth and held on to knock off the Cubs 8-5 in the first round of the Class C Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament.
Ansen Dulas took the no decision in three innings, allowing four hits and three walks for four runs, three earned, while striking out one. Searles Grizzlies draftee Mark Schommer pitched five innings in relief of Dulas, allowing four hits and two walks for no runs while striking out eight. Milroy Yankees draftee Joe Liebl took the loss for Courtland in 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and two walks for four runs, one earned, while striking out one. Teddy Giefer pitched to one batter, getting the final out of the ninth for Courtland with a strikeout.
Nolan Drill was 3 for 5 with a double to lead Courtland at the plate, while Andrew Peters was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and Carter Lang was 2 for 5. Maddox Mortensen was 1 for 3 with a double and two RBIs also for the Cubs.
Austin VerSteeg pitched 7 1/3 innings for Starbuck in the no decision, allowing six hits and two walks for three runs while striking out four. Regal Eagles draftee Brayden Skindelien pitched 1/3 innings for Starbuck, allowing two hits and two walks for one run while striking out one. Alex Panitzke pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the win, allowing two hits and no walks for one unearned run while striking out three.
Dylan Alexander was 3 for 5 with two doubles and an RBI to lead the Stars at the plate, while Jack Majerus was 2 for 4 and Noah Jensen was 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI.
The Cubs, a top 10-ranked Class C team all season and a favorite to win this year’s state tournament, found themselves down 4-0 early on to a Stars team that was hungry to prove they were no pushover.
The Stars went up 4-0 in the fourth after Dylan Alexander led off with a ground rule double and VerSteeg was walked, leading to Jensen’s RBI double to give the Stars the first lead of the game. Jackson Hendrickson walked to load the bases and prompt a pitching change that brought Schommer to the mound. Mitch Gruber singled in another run for the Stars before Schommer got a strikeout for the first out of the inning. Majerus reached on an error to make it 3-0 before Matt Gruber walked with the bases loaded to make it a 4-0 game.
The Cubs took some time to find their offense, but they did it in the eighth when they got three consecutive singles from Jaden Drill, Nolan Drill and Giefer to bring up Mortensen, who lined a double to score the Drills and have the Cubs down 4-2. Peters then singled in Giefer and moments later after a walk to Cade Bushard loaded the bases, Jackson Bode walked to bring in the tying run.
The Stars got to Liebl in the ninth, however. After Gruber led off with a single, an error on a sac bunt attempt allowed Gruber to take third and Darion Alexander to reach first. Dylan Alexander then had a ground rule double to put the Stars back in front 5-4. Wild pitches scored the next two runs before Giefer took the mound with two outs and plunked Mitch Gruber with a pitch to make it 8-4. Giefer then struck out Matt Gruber to end the top of the ninth.
Nolan Drill bounced a double over the wall in left-center field before Panitzke struck Giefer out for the first out of the bottom of the ninth. Mortensen reached on an error to move Nolan Drill to third and Peters dropped an RBI single into right for the final score of the night.
The Cubs finish their season 23-8, while the Stars move on to a second-round state game against the Urbank Bombers at 11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, in Jordan.