The Stars surprised a few folks in the Iowa Valley League last season  by winning the regular-season title and capturing the IABA state crown  a short time later.

They could be doing it again, but this time it's not a surprise.

The Stars split their showdown with Red Top on Sunday at Iowa City  West High School to stay in first place in the IVL standings with  three weeks left in the season.

The Stars have a 9-5 record, followed by Williamsburg (7-5), Red Top  (7-7), Norway (6-8), Walford (6-8) and Watkins (5-7) in the compact  standings. The Stars have another big twin-bill on tap this Sunday at  Williamsburg in another showdown.

Austin Czerwiec, the Pitcher of the Year in the Iowa Valley League  last season, tossed another complete game Sunday as the Stars trimmed  Red Top, 2-1, in the first game of their doubleheader.

Cody Williams and Matt Berst had two hits for the Stars in the  victory. Berst collected an RBI and Alex Hayden had a key double.  Connor McCaffery socked a solo home run for Red Top for his third  homer in three weeks.

Red Top won the second game, 4-2, on the strength of a big three-run  homer by Ross Kramer in the sixth inning. Ethan Copeland hit a solo  homer for Red Top and Chico Lizarraga connected for a solo  round-tripper for the Stars.

Tanner Lohaus got the victory for Red Top with two innings in relief.  Darren Kilpatrick tossed five strong innings for the winners.

WILLIAMSBURG, WALFORD SPLIT

The Williamsburg Red Sox exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning  to erase a 2-0 deficit and defeat Walford, 7-2, in the first game of  their doubleheader at Walford.

Neil Marshall of Williamsburg tied the game, 2-2, with an RBI single  in the seventh and Cam Frazier delivered a two-run single to give the  Red Sox a 4-2 lead.

Jamison Steege pitched six shutout innings for Walford before yielding  to a relief pitcher in the seventh.

Kevin Delzell tossed a shutout for Walford to give the Hogs a 2-0  victory in the nightcap. Jake Stenberg had a key RBI single for  Walford and the Hogs scored their other run on a bases-loaded walk.

Williamsburg loaded the bases against Delzell with one out in the  seventh, but could not score.

STANDINGS

Stars           9-5
Williamsburg    7-5
Red Top         7-7
Walford         6-8
Norway          6-8
Watkins         5-7

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, JULY 15

Norway at Walford, 1 p.m.
Stars at Williamsburg, 1 p.m.
Red Top at Watkins, 4 p.m.

PITCHER OF WEEK - Kevin Delzell (Walford)

PLAYER OF WEEK - Jonny Frese (Watkins)