Baseball: Duo making their mark

By Jake Nordbye, Journal correspondent | Thursday, July 24, 2008

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RAPID CITY — Bash brothers? Maybe not yet, however, the No. 3- and No. 4-hole hitters for Rapid City Post 320, Kyle Starkey and Zach Cimburek are certainly making their mark on the area hitting leaderboard.

Starkey, who is the starting center fielder for the Stars, is leading the area in hitting at a .519 clip, and Cimburek, the starting right fielder, has nine home runs which is just four short of the Post 320 single season record and leads the area.

“I don’t know where my power is coming from,” said Cimburek, who doesn’t have a typical power hitter’s frame at 5-foot, 11 inches and 170 pounds, “I’m seeing the ball well, and taking advantage of pitchers’ mistakes. I think getting the barrel through the zone is important, having quick hands helps create more power.”

Starkey, who leads Post 320 in base hits, doubles, and RBI’s, credits his year playing at Riverland Community College in Austin Minn., for a large part of his success at the plate this year in Legion ball.

“In college, every day I’m working, either lifting weights, running, or hitting. It is a constant and strenuous thing. I’m always working on my swing,” Starkey said.

Starkey and Cimburek have been key components to the team success Post 320 is having at the plate this year. The Stars are hitting .361 as a team with 36 home runs in 51 games.

“We have a great team atmosphere,” said Cimburek, “We just go out there and have fun, I think we’re doing the best we’ve ever done here. Personally, I’ve really relaxed at the plate, and I’m just trying to have fun.”

Cimburek has been starting on the varsity for the last two seasons, and Starkey has been starting since he first joined the program five years ago.

Post 320 is currently 38-12, with just four games remaining. From there it is on to the SD region 3A tournament in Pierre, July 29-31. Both Starkey and Cimburek have high expectations for their team.

“Our goal is getting to state first off,” said Cimburek, “and then from there winning the state championship. That is every team’s goal.”

Starkey echoed the sentiments of his teammate while adding a win over Post 22 into the mix.

“We want to make it to state first, then we want to beat Post 22, and win the state championship,” said Starkey, “we haven’t beaten them in the five years I’ve been here, it would be the final notch in my career in Legion baseball. We’ve got the bats to do it, and if the pitching aligns I think we’ve got a shot.”

After this season Starkey said he will return to Riverland CC for his sophomore year where he hopes to go the Junior College World Series next year. From there he wants to move on to the best four-year school he can.

Cimburek, who also plays basketball and football at St. Thomas More, still has two more seasons to play for Post 320. After high school he wants to go on and play either football or baseball in college, but says for him, education comes first. He would like to go into nursing or pharmaceuticals.