ABERDEEN - The Rapid City Post 320 Stars came to Fossum Field on Thursday evening wanting to establish their credentials as a genuine challenger for the State Class A American Legion title.

Mission accomplished.

Post 320 made a loud statement with a resounding 15-4 win over Watertown.

The Stars continued to get contributions throughout their lineup in a game shortened to seven innings by the 10-run rule.

Post 320 wasted no time stating their case, pounding out five hits and scoring four quick runs against Watertown starter Aaron Pickerel. With one out, Nate Jacobson lined a single to right, and Kyle Starkey - hitting better than .500 on the season - stroked a solid single to center. Then Zach Cimburek, who had struggled mightily at the plate in Game One, socked a three-run dinger off the scoreboard in right center - his 14th of the season - to put the Stars up 3-0. Brad Winkelman then followed with a blast off the wall in left and later scored as Sean Holloway dropped a single into shallow right to put the Stars up 4-0.

"The pitch was a belt-high fastball," said Cimburek. "I was just more relaxed today. Yesterday, maybe it was just playing in the first game of the state tournament. Nate and I were a little disappointed with our hitting yesterday and worked on hitting the ball off a tee, and the result was that we just ripped the ball today."

Post 320 starter Sean Holloway's sling-shot slants produced a 1-2-3 first. But in the second, Watertown got on the board when Adam Renner doubled and the Vanlacken brothers, Nate and Josh, hit identical bloop singles to shallow right to produce one run and the threat of more. However, a fine defensive play by Stars shortstop Nate Jacobson on a grounder behind second retired the side, preventing further damage.

The Stars posted another four-spot in the fifth as Chris Lindemann led off with a line single to left, Starkey singled - his third hit of the game - and following a Cimburek walk and a Nate Jacobson foul-out, resulting in the second out of the inning, Holloway was hit by a pitch to plate one run and Jared Jacobson spanked a Pickeral fastball to left driving in two more runs. A Reed Rice single completed the scoring and put the Stars up 8-1.

Meanwhile, Holloway struggled with his control early took command in the middle innings as he kept his breaking ball down in the zone and had Watertown hitters chopping the ball on the ground. Eight groundouts resulted as the infield worked flawlessly behind Holloway.

"At the beginning of the game I think it was just nerves," said Holloway. "Being at the state tournament is the first time I've been on any team that has gone this far. My defense really helped me calm down. They made some big plays early and once I realized that the defense was behind me, I really settled down."

Lindemann increased the Post 320 lead to 10-1 with a two-run blast over the left field wall in the sixth. Lindemann was his usual laconic self in describing the Star's offensive explosion today.

"We just got our bats back today like we did all year," he said.

Watertown struck back in the sixth scoring three runs on three hits, the big blow a two-out, two-run single by Brian Rieb who had entered the game only an inning before when Watertown made a pitching change following the Lindemann homer.

The Stars unloaded on Watertown reliever, Lucas Hoftiezer, in the seventh. Or rather, Cimburek did. Following a Reed Rice single, a Lindemann walk and a Nate Jacobson single to load the bases, Cimburek book-ended his day with his second homer of the game, a towering blast over the wall in left center field. Given Cimburek's performance today there may be a run on batting tees at the state tournament. The grand slam gave Cimburek seven RBI in the game.

In the seventh, Nate Jacobson relieved Holloway after the first two batters reached safely. He quickly retired the side and put the game in the books.

Coach Jim Brandt liked everything he saw today.

"Sean did a nice job for us, and the defense played superbly behind him," said Brandt.

"This team just doesn't get intimidated. They just play, and it isn't overconfidence. They just come to play whether they're ahead or behind. There are a lot of kids here who know how to compete."

In addition to Cimburek's heroics, Nate Jacobson and Starkey contributed three hits apiece, and

Lindemann and Rice had two hits each.

The game was over when …

The Stars ripped everything they saw, pounding out 15 hits in the game.

Thursday's MVP …

Zach Cimburek hit his 14th and 15th home runs of the year and drove in seven runs on the day.

On deck …

Post 320 will play in this evening's late game against Mitchell.