Hurling a gem: Austin’s Schumacher pitches a 2-hit shutout
Published 9:15 pm Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Austin Legion’s Jordan Hart swings on a pitch against Albert Lea Wednesday night at Dick Seltz Field. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Isaac Schumacher wasn’t able to get his first no-hitter for the Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team, but he pitched about as clean of a shutout he could hope for as Austin blanked Albert Lea 8-0 in Dick Seltz Field Wednesday.
Schumacher allowed just two hits and zero walks as he struck out four to pick up the win in seven innings. AL broke up his no-hitter with two outs in the fourth inning with a double as Austin was leading 8-0. Schumacher said he had never come this close to a no-hitter before and it was definitely on his mind the longer it lasted.
Austin Legion’s Dylan Gasner steals second as the ball skips into Albert Lea second baseman Parker Mullenbach Wednesday night at Dick Seltz Field. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“It’s kind of hard not to think about when you know your team can put it away in five [innings],” Schumacher said. “It was fun while it lasted, but it kind of sucked when it ended.”
Post 91 (2-0 overall) has thrown three pitchers over 14 innings to begin the season and Austin has been dominant as it has allowed just two runs and four hits over that time.
“Pitching has been outstanding,” Post 91 co-head coach Joe Kroc said. “Four hits in two games with not many walks, that’s tough to sustain and obviously it’s not going to sustain, but starting the year like that is definitely big for us. We had some really good approaches at the plate tonight, even with two strikes.”
Austin’s offense provided an early punch as Dylan Gasner doubled in a run in the first inning and he added a two-run single to put Post 91 up 7-0 in the fourth. Six different players had a hit in the win for Austin and as Daniel Bollingberg went 3-for-3 with a double and Nik Gasner knocked in three runs.
“If we do our job, we know the guy behind us is going to do their job too,” Dylan said. “Hitting is a chain reaction and it’s contagious. We’re all swinging well right now and that makes it easier.”
Dylan was behind the plate for Schumacher’s shutout and he threw out one runner attempting to steal. He said it was a pretty easy game to catch.
“He was throwing a lot of strikes and putting hitters in tough counts,” Dylan said of Schumacher. “He was hitting spots when he needed to. He made it easy on me and easy on the defense too.”
Post 91 rallied its way to the Final Four of the District tournament last season and the team brings back much of that squad this year. Hopes are high for Austin, but the team is trying to stay grounded.
Austin Legion’s Isaac Schumacher pitches against Albert Lea Wednesday night at Dick Seltz Field. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“They just have to believe in themselves,” Kroc said. “About mid-way last year you could see confidence building and I think that confidence has rolled right into this year. Where we started last year to where we’re at right now is night and day.”
AL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 2 2
Austin 2 1 1 4 0 0 0 — 8 10 2
Austin pitching: Isaac Schumacher (W) 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K
Austin hitting: Daniel Bollingberg, 3-for-3, double, 3 R; Dylan Gasner, 2-for-4, double, 3 RBIs, 3 R; Nik Gasner, 1-for-2, 3 RBIs; Jordan Hart, 1-for-2, BB; Nate Conner, 0-for-2; Ethan Horstmann, 2-for-2, R, SB; Jason Stoulil, 0-for-2, R; Ryan McCormack, 1-for-3, R; Alex Ciola, 0-for-2, RBI; Tyler Bundy, BB; Brandon Bickel, 0-for-1; Jacob Kempen, 0-for-1; Riley Olson, HBP; Riley Wagner, 0-for-1
