Starbuck Stars Advance to Class C Finals
The Starbuck Stars clinched a 5‑1 win over the Urbank Bombers on Thursday night, securing their spot in the state Class C amateur baseball tournament finals.
Third baseman Mitch Gruber, 23, delivered a three‑run double in the eighth inning that turned a tight contest into a comfortable lead, while right‑hander Austin Ver Steeg limited the Bombers to a single run over six innings.
Relief pitcher Alex Panitzke closed out the game, preserving the lead and earning the victory for Starbuck, which had not reached the third round of the state tournament since 1996.
Starbuck will now meet the Luxemburg Brewers on Friday, August 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in New Prague. The winner of that quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, August 31, and the championship game is slated for Sunday, September 1, also in New Prague.
Team manager Mike Andreas noted that he has never witnessed the club win three consecutive games in a state tournament, underscoring the significance of the current run.
Urbank’s starter Alex Koep threw six shutout innings earlier in the series, allowing just three hits and striking out six batters, but the Bombers’ offense could not overcome Starbuck’s timely hitting.
Gruber said his approach at the plate is simple: stay present, keep his mind clear, and let the swing happen. Ver Steeg, a 2016 graduate of Minnewaska High School, has been a staple for Starbuck for years and expressed pride in the team’s progress.
The Luxemburg Brewers, composed mostly of players from St. Cloud Tech, Rocori and Kimball high schools, enter the matchup with a strong Central Valley League pedigree.