The Austin VFW baseball team played through a downpour against Rochester East Wednesday night at Marcusen Park.

Thursday, June 15, 2000

The Austin VFW baseball team played through a downpour against Rochester East Wednesday night at Marcusen Park. After trailing 2-0 through four-and-a-half innings Austin rallied for six runs in the bottom of the fifth. Rochester stormed back with seven runs in the top of the sixth to win 9-6.

Adam VanProosdy threw five strong innings before he had to take a long rest because of a rain delay and the long Austin rally. He wasn’t quite the same after that.

The six-run Austin rally was capped off by a two-run double off the bat of Brent Hovey. Scoring on the double were Nick Bowe and Matt Johnson. Derek Mullenbach, Andy Klapperick, and Mike Leathers also picked up RBIs in the inning.

The Rochester comeback was aided by some well placed balls in the treacherous Marcusen Park outfield.

"There were some tough playing conditions out there," Austin coach Don Leathers said. "I was pleased with our effort, especially the comeback in the fifth off a tough lefty. We kept swinging away at him."

The VFW (5-4, 1-2) hosts Rochester South in a doubleheader this Saturday at Marcusen. The game times are 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.