Austin Post 91 baseball team opens with big win over Stewartville
Published 11:02 pm Monday, June 9, 2014
Austin’s Nate Conner attempts to tag out a Stewartville runner at second base in Stewartville Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
STEWARTVILLE —The Austin Post 91 Legion baseball season started its season off on the right note as it came through with an 11-1 win in six innings at Stewartville Monday.
Post 91 (1-0 overall) finished the game with 13 hits and it had four triples. Austin’s pitchers took care of business in the mound as four separate hurlers allowed just three hits and struck out a total of 13 hitters.
Steven Clennon throws a pitcher for Austin Post 91 in Stewartville Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
“Throwing strikes was the biggest thing. I thought that set the pace and we only walked one guy all game,” Austin co-head coach Andy Swank said. “It was kind of our goal tonight to get everybody in the game and get everybody some swings. We want to get them comfortable in there and see what they’re capable of.”
Steven Clennon struck out seven in three scoreless innings and he said it was nice to come into the game with a lead. Clennon, who picked up the win in relief, came in the game in the second inning with Austin up 2-1.
The lop-sided win was a much needed confidence booster for an Austin squad that struggled during the high school season in the spring.
“It’s huge,” Clennon said. “It’s just like a completely momentous event. Everyone’s feeling good.”
Austin broke the game open in a six-run fourth inning that saw Jordan Hart single in a pair of runs and NIk Gasner triple in two more runs.
Hart, who went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Daniel Bollingberg, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, are making the transition from playing with Lyle-Pacelli in the spring to playing with Austin this summer.
Hart and Bollinberg already know most of their Post 91 teammates, but they still have to get used to playing with some new faces.
“It’s different. There’s a lot of talent here, so hopefully we can get some big wins in the future,” Hart said. “It’s good to get a W and it’s also good to see what everyone can do.”
Austin will play at Owatonna Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Austin 2 0 1 6 1 1 — 11 13 2
Stewartville 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 3 2
Zach Huntley of Austin Post 91 takes a swing against Stewartville in Stewartville Monday. — Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com
Austin pitching: Jacob Kempen, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 1 K; Steven Clennon (W) 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K; Isaac Schumacher, 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K; Hunter Lewis, 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K
Austin hitting: Daniel Bollingberg, 3-for-4, RBI, 2 R; Nate Conner, 2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 3 R, BB; Jordan Hart, 2-for-4, triple, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Nik Gasner, 1-for-4, triple, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Ethan Hortstmann, 1-for-3, triple, R; Clennon, 0-for-1, R, BB, SB; Kempen, 0-for-2; Zach Huntley, 0-for-2; Dylan Gasner, 0-for-1, R, BB; Shawn Case, 0-for-2; Hunter Lewis, 0-for-1; Mitch Truax, 1-for-1; Brady McDermott, 1-for-2, R; Schumacher, 1-for-2, RBI