Rain arrives to wash out Greyhounds#039; state opener

Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 17, 2002

COLD SPRING -- The Austin Greyhounds waited nearly one year and played 50 games to get back to the Minnesota Baseball Association Class B 2002 State Tournament. But thanks to some inclement weather, the 'Hounds have to wait a little longer.

One hour of steady rain and the persistent threat of lightning kept the Greyhounds (33-17) from ever starting their state-tournament opener against Hutchinson (16-13) Friday night at the Cold Spring Baseball Park. Austin started its pregame warm-ups before field and league officials waved the players off because of the elements.

Two hours later, at 9:30 p.m., the postponement became official.

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A steady downpour blanked the Cold Spring infield with puddles, but after a let-up the grounds crew labored to prepare the field -- again -- for play. Once the field's condition was deemed playable, officials and coaches met to confirm the game would be played.

Ten minutes later, after a lightning show miles out from center field dazzled the die-hard crowd, the game was called.

The 5 p.m. games in both Cold Spring and St. Cloud were played without a threat of wet weather, but rain and lightning showered down to delay the evening games. Red Wing and Waseca, who started on-time with their 7:30 p.m. first-rounder at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, were called off the field in the bottom of the fifth with Waseca leading 2-0.

The Waseca - Red Wing game will resume today at 11 a.m. at Putz Field in St. Cloud, and the Greyhounds' game will follow. The winners will play Friday at 7:30 p.m. in St. Cloud, and the losers will play Thursday at 7:30 p.m., also in St. Cloud.

In other first-round action, the Rochester Royals, who won the regular-season title in the Southern Minny League, took a 4-2 win over Dassel-Cokato. The Greyhounds beat the Royals twice in Region 2B play, however, to earn the top seed heading into state.

First-seeded teams were 1-5 through Friday's rainouts, with Section 4 runner-up Waseca leading Red Wing midway through their game. Two-time defending Class B champion Cold Spring was defeated 7-6 by Bemidji Thursday night.

First round:

Grand Rapids 5, St. Cloud Ultimate Sports 0

Jordan 9, Burnsville 1

Hastings 9, Mankato 0

Rochester 4, Dassel-Cokato 2

Bemidji 7, Cold Spring 6

Apple Valley 5, Chaska 3

Waseca 2, Red Wing 0, (5) ppd.

Austin vs. Hutchinson, ppd.

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