The Austin All-Stars/Eagles 14-and-under baseball team competed in the Minnesota State Fastpitch State Tournament this past weekend, finishing second after playing six games in two days.

In game one, Austin lost 5-4 in an eight-inning game against Shoreview. Trevor Englund pitched seven strong innings. Tim Kirby and Josh Dunfee each collected two hits in the contest. Shoreview used a suicide squeeze to end the game in the bottom of the eighth.

"I think this was an OK way to start. Shoreview had only lost three games all year and we hung in there with them. This gave the kids confidence that we could come up here and compete," said coach Tom Wiechmann.

Game two saw Austin against Burnsville with the winner moving into the championship round and the loser going to the consolation bracket. Austin won 4-3 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Edgar hit a bases-loaded single for the walk-off finish. Austin then placed second in their pool, behind Shoreview, and moved to the championship bracket.

In championship bracket play Austin played a tough Mendota Heights team. The Austin Eagles came up with four runs in the first inning and never looked back. Austin finished the game winning 8-2 and moving on. Kirby and Dunfee again collected two hits apiece.

Austin's fourth game of the tournament was against Apple Valley. Austin had played Apple Valley in a tournament in June in which they came up on the short end of a 5-4 loss.

"The kids wanted revenge. Again they knew they could play with them," said coach Wayne Edgar.

It was another hard-fought game and Austin came away with more heroics as Joe Maus doubled in Kirby to again end the game in the bottom of the seventh.

Austin met the host team Eastview in the championship semifinals. Austin trailed 3-2 going into the fifth inning when they busted loose for six runs, five of them with two outs. Dan Wiechmann had three hits and four RBIs in the contest. Austin finished 10-5.

In the championship game Austin had another crack at a tough Shoreview team. Both teams battled through their respective halves of the bracket to meet in the final game. Austin came up a little short in a lightening-called five-inning game, losing 3-2. Austin had runners on first and second with one out when the game was delayed and eventually called due to lightening.

"The table was set for us to win this game. This is a hard way to lose but you can't control the weather. I'm proud of this team and the way they conducted themselves after the game was called. They showed great sportsmanship and they are all fine young men," Wiechmann said.