Hounds edge Redlegs 1-0

Published 10:20 pm Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Austin Greyhounds second baseman John Frein turns a doubleplay, getting the force out on the Tri-City Redlegs' Jordan Ziegler Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

On a night where offense was nearly impossible to come by, the Austin Greyhounds squeaked out a 1-0 victory over the much younger Tri-City Redlegs at Marcusen Park Thursday.

The Redlegs had the tying run on third base with two outs in the ninth inning when John Kirby zipped a fast ball past Adam Borst to end the contest. Kirby picked up the save by striking out the side with heaters.

“I’m not really confident with my curve ball because I’ve only thrown a couple of times this summer,” Kirby said. “I mixed it in there, jut to keep it honest, but the fastball felt good.”

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Kirby was the fifth Austin pitcher to take the mound in the win.

The Hounds, who had just two hits, scored their only run in the third inning when Joe Kroc and Frein walked, and Kroc scored on a throwing error on what would’ve been an inning ending double play.

The Hounds (23-9 overall) are a team of veterans that will open Section 2B Tournament play at Marcusen Saturday at 8 p.m. and the Redlegs are a first year team that features younger players from Albert Lea, Rochester, Southland, Austin and Mason City.

The Tri-City Redlegs' Steve Serratore lays down a bunt against the Austin Greyhounds Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“These guys are good players and they’re going to be awesome,” Hounds manager John Frein said. “We had a little more experience than them and our pitchers did well. But our intensity was probably a one out of ten. Still, it’s better to play than not to play.”

The Hounds will play a three-game series with either New Ulm or Marshall at Marcusen this weekend with a trip to the super-sections on the line. The super-sections start the following Friday.

Redlegs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 5 0

Hounds 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 X — 1 2 3

Hounds pitching: Zach Schara, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 HBP; Bryan Toov (W), 2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 1 K; Alex Kasak, 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 1 K; John Halverson, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R; John Kirby (S), 1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 K

Hounds hitting: Andy Swank, 0-for-4; Tyler Leopold, 0-for-3, BB; Craig Braaten, 1-for-2, 2 BBs; Matt Raso, 0-for-3; Toov, 0-for-3; Nels Nelson, 0-for-3; Joe Kroc, 1-for-2, R, BB; John Frein, 0-for-1, 2 BBs

Redlegs hitting: Cole Jorenson, 1-for-2, BB; Steve Serratore, 2-for-2