Austin VFW baseball team clinches No. 2 seed
Published 8:25 pm Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Austin’s Trevor Stevens slides safely into third ahead of the tag of Rochester’s Connor Belda in the first inning Wednesday at Marcusen Park. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin Post 1216 VFW baseball team is headed into the playoffs on a high note.
After beating Rochester Lourdes 10-7 in Marcusen Park Wednesday, Austin has now won seven straight and it will host a Sub-District Tournament this weekend.
Austin’s Nate Connor puts the tag on Rochester’s Paul Schroeder as Schroeder steals second base Wednesday at Marcusen Park.
Seven different players collected hits for Austin (17-5 overall) against Rochester and Dylan Gasner had two big ones as he knocked in a run with two outs to make it 4-4 in the fourth and he drove in two runs with a two out single up the middle to make it 8-4 in the fourth.
“This one meant a lot. We really wanted to get that two seed,” said Dylan Gasner, who went 2-for-4. “In our lineup, you know that even if you don’t come through, there’s a guy behind you that can still hit the ball.”
Dylan Gasner’s older brother Nik Gasner made his pitching debut for the VFW this summer as he is battling back from a knee injury he sustained at the end of the high school baseball season. Nik Gasner went three innings and struck out three to pick up the win.
He allowed one run in his first inning, but retired nine of the last 10 hitters he faced.
“It’s harder to hit when I’m pushing off than to pitch,” said Nik Gasner, who was 1-for-3 with an RBI. “After that first inning I felt good on the mound, but my hitting’s still coming along. I still get sore, but that’ll come with playing more.”
Austin pitcher Jake Reinartz delivers in the top of the first inning Wednesday at Marcusen Park.
Austin enters the Sub-District as a No. 2 seed and it will host the double elimination tournament Saturday and Sunday. If necessary, the tournament may have a game on Monday as well.
The winner of the Sub-District Tournament will advance to a four-team District Tournament, which will be hosted by the highest remaining seed.
“It’s really fun to get back out here with these guys,” Nik Gasner said. “One of our main goals this year was to host a subdistrict and hopefully we can get to state.”
Rochester 1 2 1 0 0 0 3 — 7 7 4
Austin 2 0 0 3 4 1 X — 10 9 3
Austin pitching: Jake Reinartz, 2 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, 3 K; Nik Gasner (W), 3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 3 K; Isaac Schumacher, 2 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 K
Austin hitting: Trevor Stevens, 2-for-4, RBI, R, SB, BB; Dylan Gasner, 2-for-4, 3 RBIs; Jordan Hart, 1-for-3, double, R, 2 BBs; Nik Gasner, 1-for-3, RBI; Schumacher, 0-for-3, BB; Nate Conner, 0-for-2, 2 R, 2 SB, BB, HBP; Daniel Bollingberg, 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB, BB; Alex Ciola, 1-for-3, R; Jason Stoulil, 0-for-3; Sam Swenson, 1-for-1, RBI, R
Rocky Hulne is the sports editor of the Austin Daily Herald. Follow him on Twitter @RockyHulneADH.
