One day after playing long ball for a win, the Austin baseball team won in Faribault on Tuesday by playing small ball.

Wednesday, May 10, 2000

One day after playing long ball for a win, the Austin baseball team won in Faribault on Tuesday by playing small ball.

Austin used eight singles, four steals and three Falcons’ errors in the 9-3 win that was a sharp contrast to the Packers’ victory a day earlier.

Against Rochester Century on Monday, the Packers ended a three-game slide by hitting three homers that accounted for all their runs in a 4-3 win.

Against Faribault, Austin didn’t need the power once Clint Ripley took the mound. Ripley replaced starter Nick Rohne with one out in the second inning. Austin coach Jerry Miller pulled Rohne after the pitcher said he had shoulder pain.

Ripley came on to douse Faribault’s one-out, two-on potential rally by striking out the first two batters he faced. Ripley finished the final 5 2/3 innings to get the win. He struck out 10.

Austin got multiple hit games from Joe Huffman and Matt Smith, who each had two singles. Smith had a pair of RBI.

Jamie Morrison also added an RBI single.

"When we needed them, we got the hits with runners in scoring position," Miller said.

Austin (8-6, 8-5 in the Big Nine) hosts struggling Owatonna on Thursday at Marcusen Park.

Austin girls coming on strong

Sparked by wins in three relays, the Austin girls’ track and field team placed second in a triangular at Rochester Mayo on Tuesday.

The Packers, with 56 1/2 points, finished behind Mankato West (83 1/2) and ahead of Mayo (45).

"It’s was nice to see," Coach Lisa Glynn said. "We’re really coming on."

The Packers got it first win in the 4 x 800-meter relay (Nicole Koser, Lisa Bue, Emily Bue, Brittney Erichson) in 10 minutes, 11.46 seconds, less than a second ahead of West.

The Packers then comfortably won both the 4 x 200 in 1:52.41 (Laura Nace, Meriel Bednar, Megan Seibel and Theresa Hirsch), and the 4 x 400 in 4:17.68 (Hirsch, Nace, Erichson, Bednar).

Erichson continued to dominate in the 1,600 run, winning in 5:34.93. She hasn’t lost in that race this season.

Bednar, a senior, won the 400 dash in 1:01.78. This is the Bednar’s first season running the event and she’s taken to it quite well. This was her second straight win in the event.

"She did a lot of lifting in the offseason," Glynn said. "She’s stronger and really running well."

Austin picked up its sixth and final win in the duscus. Sarah Heins won with a throw of 89 feet, 1 inch.

Austin boys track in action

The Austin boys’ track and field team took part in a four-team invite on Tuesday, finishing behind Mankato East (95), West (83), Mayo (48).

Austin finished with 35 points.

Preston Horton finished second in the 100 dash in 11.62.

Bryan Larson grabbed two second-place finishes, in the 400 dash (53.06) and high jump (6 feet).

Mike Milli finished second in the 200 dash in 23.69, .10 in back of the winner.

Finally, Drew Oesterle finished second in the 300 hurdles in 42.41, .30 back of the winner.