The Hayfield/Austin Athletics went into Wednesday night's game against Byron with a shaky defense, a pitching staff in shambles and a four-game losing streak.

Sporting sleeveless uniforms in an attempt to break their skid, the A's cut down on their errors and got a complete game from pitcher Jay Wetzel to hold off the Bears 7-6 at Marcusen Park and stay in the hunt for a share of the Twin Rivers League White Division title.

"These are important games," Wetzel said. "It's in our hands, we have to get it done."

Hayfield/Austin improved to 15-17 and more importantly 11-4 in league play. Their victory keeps them on pace with the Rochester Blues, who finished their season with four league losses.

After committing eight errors the previous night against Stewartville/Racine, the A's were able to hold it down to three miscues versus Byron.

"Our defense has been our big problem, we haven't really had a shortstop," said A's player/manager Troy Holtz, "but I think we found one tonight."

"We picked up the ball better tonight," said catcher Matt Juncker.

Both teams got off to a shaky start in the field though. A two-out error by the A's put Byron up 1-0 in the top of the first.

The A's would give the run right back in the bottom of the inning thanks to the first of two errors in the game by Byron second baseman Kyle Hoegh. Al Dahlen followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Holtz.

The Bears retook the lead in the second off former Athletic Adam Schroeder's RBI sacrifice fly.

Hayfield/Austin would answer once again in their half of the second. After a walk to Jamie Beck and a Juncker single to lead off the inning, Nick Bowe ripped a two-run double into the left field corner. Todd Walerak followed with an RBI-single to make it 4-2.

The A's added another run in the third as Juncker made Byron pay for two fielding gaffes by doubling to deep left-center to score Dahlen.

Wetzel responded to this three-run cushion by settling down and holding the Bears hitless through the fifth.

"As a pitcher, it changes the complexion of the game, how you go after hitters," Wetzel said of the early lead.

He got into trouble in the sixth though, as Byron loaded the bases with one out off of an error, a walk and the rare catcher's interference call. Schroeder and Larry Franck cut the lead to 5-4 with consecutive RBI-singles.

The A's didn't panic, getting the two runs back by capitalizing on some wildness by Scott Peterson, who had come on in relief of starter Josh Maggert. Coming in to start the inning, Peterson walked Ciola and Juncker, hit Beck and uncorked a wild pitch that scored Matt Johnson.

Byron would have tied it back up in the seventh were it not for some alert fielding by the A's. After the Bears put runners at the corners off of a couple of base hits, Wetzel bounced a pitch to the backstop. With Adam Linbo -- another former Athletic -- racing plateward, Juncker picked up the ball and fired to a covering Wetzel to nip Linbo at home.

"That play at the plate was huge," Holtz said.

It did prove significant as Jeff Rathbun followed with a base hit to make it 7-5.

The Bears would get another shot at Wetzel in the ninth as well. Linbo picked up his second hit of the game -- an RBI double -- to score Maggert, who had reached on an error. With the tying run at second and no one out, Wetzel retired the next three batters to seal the victory for the A's.

"I haven't pitched much lately, it's been about two and a half weeks," Wetzel said. "I knew I needed to go the distance though because our pitchers have been kind of banged up."

Wetzel (4-2) allowed nine hits and three earned runs over his nine innings of work, striking out three and walking four.

Offensively, Juncker was 2-for-4 with his RBI double, while Bowe was 1-for-2 with a double, a run scored, and two RBI's. Matt Johnson also had a couple of hits and scored a run. Dahlen drove in two runs and scored another.

Hayfield/Austin play again today at Dodge Center at 7:30 p.m. They finish off a busy week with another makeup game Saturday at 2 p.m. against Pine Island in Hayfield during the annual Hey Days celebration.

Linescore:

Byron110002101--693

Hayf/Austin13100200x--783

Josh Maggert, Scott Peterson (6) and Chad Gilbertson; Jay Wetzel and Matt Juncker. WP--Wetzel (4-2). LP--Maggert. 2B--B: Linbo, H/A: Juncker, Bowe.