Four players from the Austin-based amateur baseball teams participated in the Twin Rivers League All-Star Game Tuesday night at Marcusen Park, but only one was on the winning end of an 8-6 Cannon Division victory over the Zumbro Division.

Four members of the Hayfield/Austin Athletics -- Austin's second-year Class C squad -- teamed up as part of the Zumbro Division All-Stars. Player/coach Troy Holtz, outfielder Eric Schmeling, and pitchers Luke Fischer and Jon Severson were on the roster, and all but Fischer saw time on the field.

Clint Ripley of the Austin Merchants -- the first-year local team -- played first base for the Cannon team throughout the entire game.

The A's saved Fischer's arm for the TRL playoffs, which begin tonight for four of six teams in the Zumbro. The A's host Kasson tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Marcusen Park, while the Merchants travel to Dodge Center for a 7:30 p.m. meeting.

Ripley played for the Cannon Division because Lake City's All-Stars were a no-show. Zumbro Division All-Stars from the Merchants and Kasson played with the Cannon, while four teams' All-Stars -- Rochester Blues, Stewartville-Racine, Dodge Center and Hayfield/Austin -- made up the Zumbro squad.

Holtz had one of the Zumbro's three hits, coming in the form of a two-run, two-out single in the bottom of the sixth that tied the score for the time being.

"It was a lot of fun, it was a great atmosphere," Holtz said.

The Cannon Division took an 8-2 lead in the top of the eighth, scoring six runs off Blues pitcher Jeremy Cordie.

Stewartville-Racine infielder Chuck Krom made the game look closer than it was, crushing a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth off St. Charles pitcher Andy Kreidermacher. The Zumbro league had only three hits off five different pitchers, while Cannon had 15 hits against five Zumbro hurlers.

Severson pitched one inning for the Zumbro, surrendering an unearned run due to one of Krom's five errors. Schmeling was 0-1 in his only plate-appearance.

"It wasn't that good of a game, but Krom's grand slam made it look a lot closer than it really was," Holtz said.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Linescore:

Cannon000110060--8150

Zumbro000002004--637