Playoff Highlights Light Up County Line League
The opening round of the County Line League playoffs delivered a cascade of excitement as the Atwater Chuckers, Paynesville Pirates, Litchfield Blues and Benson Plowboys each secured decisive victories, setting the stage for a tightly contested postseason.
Atwater’s offense surged behind the dual threat of Jack Peterson and Carson McCain, who combined to drive a 2‑0 shutout over Norway Lake‑Sunburg. The win propels the Chuckers into a showdown with New London‑Spicer, while Norway Lake‑Sunburg now faces the elimination bracket. Complementary contributions from Jaxon Behm and David Kingery added depth to the Atwater lineup.
Paynesville continued its momentum when Grayson Fuchs launched a two‑run homer that helped seal a 4‑2 triumph over Regal. Right‑hander Bennett Evans turned in a complete game, striking out 11 batters and underscoring the Pirates’ pitching depth.
Litchfield displayed dominant pitching from Owen Boerema, who fanned 14 opponents in a 10‑0 victory against Howard Lake. The Blues also benefited from the bats of Bennett Lecher and Avery Liestman, who sparked the offense with timely hits.
Benson closed out its series with an 11‑1 rout of Hancock, highlighted by Max Nygaard’s inside‑the‑park home run. Veteran Alex Claussen delivered 11 strikeouts in six innings, cementing the Plowboys’ pitching advantage.