Austin Post 1216 lost its opener at the state VFW baseball tournament 11-8 in Brainerd Thursday.

Things started well enough for Post 1216 as it scored a run in the top of the first to go up 1-0, but Austin pitcher Jake Reinartz got in trouble when he walked three straight and Champlin Park went up 4-1.

Champlin Park added five runs in the fifth due to a couple of Austin errors and Austin trailed 11-3 before it scored five runs in the top of the seventh.

“Walks hurt us early,” Austin head coach Joe Ciola said. “Then it seemed to flatten our team up in the middle innings. We made a nice comeback, but it wasn’t quite enough.

Austin (31-6 overall) will now have to battle back through the elimination bracket at the 10-team tournament.

4 runs in 1st inning due to some walks; 5 runs in 5th due to couple errors

Austin pitching: Jake Reinartz (L), 3 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 ER, 4 K; Nate Conner, 3 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 K

Austin hitting: Trevor Stevens, 0-for-3, RBI, BB; Dylan Gasner, 2-for-4, BB, 2 RBIs; Daniel Bollingberg, 2-for-4, BB; Conner, 2-for-4, RBI; Alex Ciola, 1-for-3, RBI, BB; Brandon Bickell, 2-for-4, RBI; Jason Stoulil, 1-for-4; Riley Olson, 0-for-2; Reinartz, 0-for-2; Shane Johanssen, 0-for-1, 3 BBs