Austin Legion softball fields eight players, pulls off improbable split
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, June 20, 2001
The Austin Legion 18-and-under softball team has had a limited number of players available for each and every outing this season, but have sustained success nonetheless.
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
The Austin Legion 18-and-under softball team has had a limited number of players available for each and every outing this season, but have sustained success nonetheless. And until Tuesday, Austin had always been ready with at least nine players ready to play.
Until Tuesday.
Austin, traveling with only eight players for a league game at Red Wing, came away with a surprising split despite not fielding one defensive position and sacrificing an automatic out at the bottom of the batting order.
Austin moved its record to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in league play, and will host Hayfield Thursday at 6 p.m. at Todd Park North Complex.
"Some of the extra base hits that Red Wing got in both games were because we were missing an outfielder," said Austin coach Denny Bray.
Austin split the outfield into two halves with only two girls roaming the territory, and it nearly got the job done for both games. Austin led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth in the first game, which they eventually lost 6-5. The Wingers tabbed two runs in the sixth and Austin went scoreless in the seventh.
Amber Wilson, who suffered the pitching loss, drove in one run, and Amy Bickler, the winning pitcher in game two, drove in another. The game was decided in the bottom of the sixth inning of each game.
Red Wing took the momentum of a first-game victory and turned it into three runs in the top of the first inning in stealing a 3-0 lead early in the second game. Austin bounced back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the 4-3 nightcap.
Bickler drove in two runs with a triple, struck out two in the pitching role while walking none. Miranda Schnieder added an RBI as well.
Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at sports@austindailyherald.com.