The No. 1 seeded Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team opened the First District tournament with a bang as it topped No. 8 seeded Waseca 14-1 in seven innings in Marcusen Park Tuesday.

Five pitchers threw for Austin in the win and two players hit their first career home runs in a fourth inning that saw Austin go up 14-0.

“We were expecting a game. They just beat us a week and a half a go,” Austin co-head coach Joe Kroc said. “We had to have the mentality to come in and execute and that’s what we did. That’s the best game we’ve played in seven innings as far as maintaining focus. I can’t say enough about the kids.”

Alex Ciola and Isaac Schumacher each had their first career homers in the fourth inning for Austin (25-5 overall). Ciola belted a three-run line drive shot over the right field fence to make it an 11-0 Austin lead and Schumacher lifted a fly ball over the right field fence to make it 13-0.

Ciola said he didn’t realize he had hit it over the fence until he got to second base. Overall, he was happy with how Austin’s first tournament game went.

“We all had a big energy boost. It’s a way different game and it’s a totally different energy in the playoffs,” Ciola said. “We got Nik [Gasner] out of the game early to save our pitching and we got our bats going. It was perfect.”

Schumacher didn’t think he got all of his homer, but he was thrilled when it carried over the fence.

“I want to thank the warm Minnesota air for probably carrying the ball farther than it should’ve gone,” Schumacher said. “We were psyched [after Ciola’s homer]. Ciola’s a great hitter, but he’s not really known for his power.”

Austin will now play the Rochester Century Patriots at Mayo High School 4 p.m. Tuesday. Post 91 went 1-2 against the Patriots this summer and Century ended Austin High School’s baseball season in the spring.

Kroc said he’s expecting that game to be much tougher than Tuesday’s contest against Waseca.

“We know it’s going to be a battle,” Kroc said. “I think the guys are up for it. We’re going to have to beat some good teams at some point in the tournament. Why not now?”

Waseca 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 3 2

Austin 3 3 1 6 1 0 X — 14 15 0

Austin pitching: Nik Gasner (W) 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 7 K; Isaac Schumacher, 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K; Alex Ciola, 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K; Nate Conner, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 1 K; Jacob Kempen, 1 IP, 0 R, 1 K

Austin hitting: Daniel Bollingberg, 0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BBs, SB; Nate Conner, 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Jordan Hart, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs; Dylan Gasner, 2-for-4, 3 RBIs, 2 R; Alex Ciola, 2-for-3, HR, 4 RBIs, R; Ethan Horstmann, 1-for-3, double; Jake Reinartz, 2-for-3, 3 R; Isaac Schumacher, 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 R, BB; Ryan McCormack, 0-for-1; Kepmen, 0-for-1; Riley Wagner, 1-for-1; Tyler Bundy, 0-for-1