While exiting Marcusen Park on Tuesday following his team’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Packers, Faribault coach Rick Rost turned to Austin coach Jerry Miller and asked of Joe Huffman, "Is he your No.

Wednesday, April 12, 2000

While exiting Marcusen Park on Tuesday following his team’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Packers, Faribault coach Rick Rost turned to Austin coach Jerry Miller and asked of Joe Huffman, "Is he your No. 1 pitcher?"

"It’s either him or Nick Rohne," said Miller.

Now four games into the season, Miller appears to find himself carting an enviable problem – he might have pitching to spare.

Less than a week after Rohne struck out 13 in a win, Huffman put the clamps on Faribault, striking out 12 using biting curveballs and well-located fastballs.

"I felt confident," said Huffman. "I felt like I could go through these guys."

Huffman needed 91 pitches on the frigid afternoon to silence the Falcons, a team Huffman said he always seems to have success against.

Austin (3-1) actually trailed in the game, after the Falcons plated a lead-off triple in the third. The triple came on one of two balls that were misplayed in the Austin outfield on the afternoon. The other led to a lead-off double in the second.

The miscues didn’t bother Huffman.

"We don’t get down," he said. "We pick each other up if we mess up.

"As long as my teammates are going out there and trying as hard as they can, it’s all right."

The Packers tied the game quickly in their half of the third on Brent Holck’s sacrifice fly.

Brian Toov opened up the game with a pair of run-scoring singles – one in the fourth and one in the fifth.

Jeff Kvam also had a run-scoring single.

Austin 6, Faribault 1

Faribault Austin

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Savoie rf/cf 3 0 0 0 Holck rf 2 0 0 1

Wilfahrt cf/p 3 0 1 0 Brede ph 1 0 0 0

Thompson p/3b 3 0 1 0 Huffman p 1 1 0 0

Hartman c 3 0 0 0 Ripley ph 1 0 0 0

Holicky 3b/1b 3 0 1 0 Rohne ss 3 0 1 0

Tartaglia 2b 2 0 0 0 Schieck ph 1 0 0 0

Novotny ph 1 0 0 0 Smith 1b 2 1 0 0

Thielbar lf 2 0 0 0 Holtorf c 1 1 0 0

Velzke ph 1 0 0 0 Ryan lf 1 1 0 0

Paquette 1b/rf 3 0 0 0 Morrison ph 0 1 0 0

Spicer ss 1 1 1 0 Hansen cf 1 0 0 0

Kvam cf 2 0 1 1

Toov 2b 3 0 2 2

Klapperick 3b 2 1 0 1

Totals 25 1 4 0 21 6 4 5

E-Tartaglia, Klapperick. LOB-Faribault 4, Austin 6. 2B-Holicky, Rohne. 3B-Spicer. SF-Holck. SB-Holtorf 2, Smith.

Faribault 001 000 0 – 1

Austin 001 230 X – 6

Faribault IP H R ER BB SO

Thompson L 4 2 2 2 5 4

Wilfahrt 2 2 3 3 3 3

Austin

Huffman W 7 4 1 0 1 12

Austin girl shines on track

Austin eighth grader Brittney Erichson won the 1,600- and 800- meter races at the Faribault Invite on Tuesday.

The Packers finished in last in the four-team invite behind winner Red Wing, Burnsville and Faribault.

Erichson ran the 1,600 in 5 minutes, 30.1 seconds and the 800 in 2:30.42. Emily Bue was fourth in both events.

Seventh grader Natalie Bowers got second in the 3,200. Kari Loger picked up third in the 100 dash. Theresa Hirsch got fourth in the 100 and second in the 200.