The Not Dead Yet Tour of the Austin Greyhounds continues at 11 a.

Sunday, August 29, 1999

The Not Dead Yet Tour of the Austin Greyhounds continues at 11 a.m. today against St. Michael at the Class B Minnesota State Amateur Baseball tournament in Marshall.

St. Michael, a town with just over 1,000 people approximately 40 minutes northwest of Minneapolis lost 11-3 Friday night to the Greyhounds’ archrival and biggest nemesis this season, the Rochester Royals, in the Winner’s Bracket.

Brian Toov, who delivered Austin through the regional playoffs three weeks ago, will likely get the start against St. Michael.

"He’s probably been our MVP all year," Hounds skipper Bryant Olsen said.

St. Michael was the Class C state champs in 1997 and has made successive runs to the state tournament since moving to the Class B level in 1998. Before losing to Rochester, St. Michael 10-runned Brainerd in the opening round last Sunday.

Austin is coming off a 4-3 victory over Grand Rapids Thursday night in their second game of the tournament. After an 11-7 opening round loss to Apple Valley, Austin still needs to win five more games to reach the championship game.

"We played OK," Olsen said of Thursday’s win. "It’s not like we tore the cover off the ball. We haven’t played as well as well as we’re probably capable of. It’s been weird."

Austin was in a similar situation in 1997, its last trip to the state tournament, when it lost in the opening round, won its next game and then bowed out to Mankato.

After stumbling through the regular season with a sub .500 record, the Greyhounds surprised everyone, but perhaps themselves, in the regional playoffs.

"It seems like every year we do it," Tim Kaplan said of the Hounds’ knack for turning it up a notch during the playoffs.

"It’s pretty typical," said center fielder Tate Cummins, who has homered in three-straight games and been the Hounds’ most consistent hitter during its latest run. "We kinda struggle to get everybody to play during the regular season. But when we get to the playoffs, everybody comes through when we need them."

That "everybody" will be pretty small against St. Michael. Like he has most of the year, Olsen will be working with less than 11 everyday players.

This year’s team is decidedly weaker than the 97 squad with the loss of several key players over the past two years.

Two pitchers, Mike Wuertz and Dave Meyer, are pursuing pro careers. Chris Gogoleski, another pitcher, is starting his post-baseball life with his teaching career and a newborn. Ryan Hanson and Dave’s brother Scott, who both play at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, remained in Wisconsin. Nick Dolan, a pitcher at Minnesota State University, Mankato, played for Waseca this summer.

"We just have a love to play the game," Kaplan said of the current Greyhounds. "The thing is we just try to take it lightly have fun."