Austin VFW baseball team sweeps Faribault
Published 10:13 pm Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Austin VFW Post 1216 runner Alex Ciola slides into third as Faribault’s Kollin Hansen can’t come up with the throw during the second inning Wednesday night at Riverland Community College. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin VFW Post 1216 baseball team is on a roll and it wasn’t slowing down at the Riverland baseball complex Wednesday.
Austin took care of Faribault by winning 16-0 and 6-2 in a doubleheader.
Austin VFW No. 1216 pitcher Trevor Stevens pitches in the third inning against Faribault Wednesday night at Riverland Community College. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin (11-3 overall, 5-1 District) racked up 12 hits in the opener and seven Austin hitters had RBIs in the win. Post 1216 scored seven runs in the second as Dylan Gasner doubled in two runs with two outs and Nate Conner and Alex Ciola added two out RBI hits.
Austin scored eight more runs in the third as Riley Olson had a two-run single, Jason Stoulil doubled in two runs, Eli Kaercher knocked in a run and Trevor Stevens had an RBI. Austin also turned three double plays in the opener.
“We definitely needed everyone swinging well. It’s good for the team to score those runs,” Stoulil said. “It was a little rough going through the lineup the first time, but we started swinging the sticks, we had some solid defense and the pitchers were throwing strikes. It all looks good.”
Austin played a bulk of reserves in the second game, which did not count towards the District standings, but it sill did enough to win the game. Austin did most of its damage in the third when Stevens knocked in two runs with a two-out single to make it 3-0.
Austin split a doubleheader with Winona Saturday, winning the district game 9-2 and dropping the nightcap 2-1. On Sunday, Austin swept Apple Valley 5-3 and 8-5 in Marcusen Park Sunday.
“The team played with a lot of positive energy and a great attitude against Apple Valley,” Austin head coach Joe Ciola said. “It was a great day.”
Austin’s upcoming VFW tournament scheduled for Friday and Saturday has been canceled since Marcusen Park has flooded. Even though Austin has played in six games in the past five days, and it has a busy schedule next week, the team was bummed out that it is going to miss out on another four games that would’ve taken place over the weekend.
“We like to play ball every day,” Alex Ciola said. “We’re not human.”
Post 1216 is also hoping that Marcusen can get back in good shape as soon as possible.
Austin VFW Post 1216’s Dylan Gasner swings on a pitch in the second inning against Faribault Wednesday night at Riverland Community College. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“Marcusen being under water is a complete devastation for this team,” Reinartz said. “That’s our home field and it feels weird playing at Riverland.”
Faribault 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 3 2
Austin 1 7 8 0 X — 16 12 0
Austin pitching: Trevor Stevens (W) 4 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 1 K; Jake Reinartz, 1 IP, 1 BB, 0 R, 3 K
Austin hitting: Stevens, 2-for-3, RBI, BB; Dylan Gasner, 1-for-2, double, 2 RBIs, 2 R, SB, BB; Daniel Bollingberg, 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 SB, BB; Nate Conner, 1-for-2, 3 RBIs, 2 R, SB, HBP; Alex Ciola, 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 SB, R; Riley Olson, 2-for-2, 2 RBIs, 3 R, BB; Jason Stoulil, 1-for-3, double, 2 RBIs, R; Eli Kaercher, 1-for-3, RBI; Brandon Bickell, 2 R, 2 BBs; Evan McAlister, 0-for-1, 2 R; Reinartz, 1-for-1, double; Garett Ruroden, 0-for-1; Tanner Steene, 1-for-1
Faribault 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 — 2 3 3
Austin 0 3 1 2 0 0 X — 6 5 1
Austin pitching: Ciola (W) 3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 2 K; Stoulil, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 3 K; Kaercher, 3 IP, 3 BB, 1 ER, 5 K, 1 HBP
Austin hitting: Stevens, 2-for-4, triple, 2 RBIs, R; Ciola, 0-for-1, BB; Stoulil, 0-for-2; Bickell, 1-for-2, double, R; Reinartz, 1-for-3, 2 R, SB; Brayden Merritt, 1-for-3; Ruroden, 0-for-2, R, HBP; Steene, 1-for-2, RBI, R; McAlister, 0-for-3; Kaercher, 0-for-2, RBI
