The Austin Post 1216 VFW baseball team received a huge boost from the bottom of its order as it knocked off Red Wing 11-1 in five innings to win the Sub-District tournament and advance to Districts in Marcusen Park Sunday.

Austin is the top overall seed and it will host the four-team double elimination District Tournament Saturday and Sunday in Marcusen Park. The winner of that tournament will advance to the state tournament.

Red Wing led the game 1-0 after one and a half innings, when Austin (28-5 overall) started doing damage at the plate. Post 1216’s No. 7 hitter Jason Stoulil started the flurry when he launched a solo homer over the left field fence and No. 9 hitter Shane Johannsen, who had three RBIs on the day, kept the rally going when he tripled in a run.

By the time the smoke cleared in the second inning, Austin was up 7-1 and well on its way to a win.

Stoulil hadn’t hit a homer since he was 12-years old, but he had a big weekend as he went 6-for-10 with five RBIs. Austin beat Red Wing 12-2 and topped Cannon Falls 5-4 on Saturday.

“It felt nice to hit the ball this weekend. Everyone did it and it was nice to contribute,” Stoulil said. “We’re punching our ticket to [the state tournament in] Brainerd. We don’t need a ticket, but we’re going.”

Austin was in the exact same situation last year, but it lost two straight District qualifying games at home and its season was over in a snap. This time Austin left no doubt in its final game.

“It feels amazing,” Austin pitcher Daniel Bollingberg said. “Ever since that game last year we wanted to be here. That’s why we worked so hard all year so we could host Sub-Districts and Districts. That really motivated us this year.”

Bollingberg pitched a no-hitter as he struck out five and allowed zero earned runs in five innings of work.

“My arm didn’t feel amazing,” he said. “I just threw strikes and the defense helped me. That’s all you need to do sometimes.”

Austin was in position to to move on Sunday because of what Post 1216 did on Saturday. Austin trailed Cannon Falls 4-2 after six and a half innings, but Austin rallied to win the game 5-4.

Nate Conner had a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 4-4 and Jake Reinartz knocked in the winning run with a one out single.

Reinartz picked up the mound win in both of Saturday’s games.

Red Wing 0 1 0 0 0 — 1 0 1

Austin 0 7 0 1 3 — 11 10 2

Austin pitching: Daniel Bollingberg (W) 5 IP, 3 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 5 K

Austin hitting: Trevor Stevens, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, SB, BB, R; Dylan Gasner, 0-for-3; Bollingberg, 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 SB, BB; Nate Conner, 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, BB; Alex Ciola, 1-for-2, triple, RBI, R, HBP; Brandon Bickell, 0-for-2; Jason Stoulil, 2-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R; Riley Olson, 0-for-1, R, BB; Shane Johannsen, 2-for-2, 2 triples, 3 RBIs, 2 R, HBP; Jake Reinartz, 0-for-1; Forrest Lewis, 1-for-1, R

Austin 5, Cannon Falls 4

Austin pitching: Stevens, 4 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP; Reinartz (W) 3 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 K

Austin hitting: Stevens, 2-for-4; Bollingberg, 1-for-3, RBI; Bollingberg, 2-for-3; Conner, 0-for-3, RBI; Bickell, 3-for-3; Reinartz, 1-for-1, RBI; Stoulil, 1-for-3, RBI; Lewis, 1-for-2, RBI

Austin 12, Red Wing 2

Austin pitching: Reinartz (W) 5 IP, 3 H, 5 BB, 2 ER, 6 K; Gasner, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R

Austin hitting: Stevens, 2-for-4, RBI; Bollingberg, 2-for-2, RBI; Conner, 1-for-2; Ciola, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Olson, 1-for-3, RBI; Stoulil, 3-for-4, 3 RBIs; Reinartz, 1-for-1, RBI