Craig Selk sparked the Austin Packers with his bat Wednesday night, and three Packers pitchers combined to beat Waseca 7-4 at Tink Larson Field in Waseca.

Wednesday, August 02, 2000

Craig Selk sparked the Austin Packers with his bat Wednesday night, and three Packers pitchers combined to beat Waseca 7-4 at Tink Larson Field in Waseca. The win moved the Packers into Sunday’s league playoff championship game, to be held at Mayo Field in Rochester, beginning at 6 p.m.

Selk hit a pair of two-run home runs in the game, including one in the sixth inning that gave the Packers a permanent lead. He finished the game 2-for-3 with four runs batted in.

Scott Meyer went six innings to pick up the win. James Rollins relieved Meyer in the seventh, getting two outs and setting up Nick Dolan for the save.

Austin manager Joe Serratore said the Packers played a solid all-around game.

"The guys who we’ve needed to step up for us in the tournament really have," Serratore said. "All of our pitchers threw really well and Ryan Hanson’s had an outstanding tournament hitting the ball."

Hanson continued his torrid hitting pace Tuesday, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and an RBI. Mitch Mullenbach literally stole the show for Austin, going 2-for-4 at the plate and stealing three bases.

Serratore said third baseman Lee Brand may have saved the day for Austin in the bottom of the ninth.

Waseca led off the inning with a base hit. The next batter hit a sharp grounder to third, which brand deflected directly to shortstop John Frien. Frien turned, fired and got the out at second base. Waseca’s next batter singled to left, which would’ve left the bases loaded with no outs had Brand not made the diving deflection.

Catcher Todd Mann led Waseca at the plate, going 3-for-5.

Austin 020 003 011 – 7 9 4

Waseca 002 000 200 – 4 15 1

Meyer (W), Rollins (7), Dolan (7, Sv) and Raso, Juncker (8); Case and Mann; 2B: AUS: Hanson, WAS: Woites; HR: AUS: Selk (2)