The second season of Minnesota Amateur baseball for the Hayfield/Austin Athletics came to an end Tuesday night as the A's were blanked by defending state tournament qualifier Cannon Falls, 6-0, at Dundas.

The A's (15-21) needed three wins to reach the state tournament out of the consolation bracket of Section 4C, but Cannon Falls moved a step closer instead. The Athletics reached one level further into the postseason than in last season's premier campaign.

Cannon Falls' Robert Burr scattered four hits in the Bears' victory. Stewartville-Racine draftee Chuck Krom allowed eight hits for the A's.

Scott Hvistendahl and Derik Plotsky each had two hits for Cannon Falls, who will face Hampton in the consolation finals. Hampton ousted A's conference counterpart Dodge Center, 1-0, Tuesday.

"They just converted on the chances they got, and we did not do anything offensively tonight," said Hayfield/Austin player/coach Troy Holtz. "The bats kind of went silent at the end of the year."

Al Dahlen doubled for the A's only extra-base hit, Krom singled off the fence in left, and Matt Juncker and Jamie Beck added singles as well. The A's also committed five errors in the season-ending defeat.

"I think the guys came to play, but it was the playoffs and it showed," Holtz said. "The regular season we didn't have quite the year we wanted, but things straightened out in the playoffs."

Linescore:

Hayf/Aus000000000--045

C Falls001300020--681

Chuck Krom and Matt Juncker; Robert Burr and Andrew Swanson. WP--Burr. LP--Krom.