Austin Post 91 baseball team gets its bats going in sweep of Faribault

Published 12:12 am Friday, July 8, 2016

The Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team waited for a little rain to pass and then they put up their biggest scoring inning of the season that triggered a sweep of Faribault in Marcusen Park Thursday.

After a half-hour rain delay, Post 91 racked up 13 runs in the top to the fourth inning to win game one 14-1 in five innings and it took the nightcap 16-6 in six innings.

Nate Conner, who went four-for-six on the night, said that Austin (12-5 overall) was able find its bats once the team knew it was actually going to be able to play both games.

Tanner Steene makes contact for the Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team against Faribault in Marcusen Park Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Tanner Steene makes contact for the Austin Post 91 Legion baseball team against Faribault in Marcusen Park Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

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“I thought it was going to get called and it was going to rain more,” Conner said. “Getting back in the mind set that we were going to play again was big.”

Dylan Gasner had six RBIs on the night, but his biggest hit came when he blasted a three-run homer over the right field fence to put Post 91 up 9-1 in the first game. It was the first homer of Gasner’s baseball career.

“That was fun for me personally, but it was nice for me to add some runs for the team,” Gasner said. “Everyone on our team knows how to hit the ball, we just need to stay within ourselves and stay true to our approach and we’ll be good.”

Alex Ciola picked up the pitching win in the first game and Jason Stoulil picked up the win in the nightcap. Stoulil also boosted Austin’s offense with a three-run double to get Post 91’s bats going in the second game.

Ciola pitched a strong five innings as he scattered four hits and allowed zero earned runs.

“In the first game or two [Ciola] was inconsistent and keeping the ball up. As the year’s been going he’s only been getting better,” Kroc said. “He just needs to keep the ball down.”

Austin is buckling down for the stretch run as the team has just over a week remaining. After going to the state tournament last season, Post 91 is hoping to make another long playoff run this summer.

“We know what we need to do to get to where we want to be at the end of the season. We’re just trying to get to that point,” Conner said.

Faribault 0 0 1 0 0 — 1 4 2

Austin 1 0 0 13 0 — 14 12 2

Austin pitching: Alex Ciola (W) 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 6 K

Austin hitting: Daniel Bollinberg, 1-for-3, triple, 2 RBIs; Ciola, 2-for-3, 2 R; Nate Conner, 1-for-3, R, BB; Dylan Gasner, 3-for-4, HR, 5 RBIs, R; Jason Stoulil, 0-for-1, BB; Tanner Steene, 1-for-3, 2 R, 3 SB; Evan McAlister, 0-for-1, 2 R, HBP, BB; Ryan McCormack, 1-for-2, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Forrest Lewis, 1-for-1, double, R, BB; Garett Ruroden, 1-for-1, R, BB; Evan Horstmann, 0-for-1, SB; Jake Reinartz, 1-for-1, RBI, R; Phillip Zynda, 1-for-1, double

Austin’s Evan McAlister is hit by a pitch against Faribault in Marcusen Park Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Austin’s Evan McAlister is hit by a pitch against Faribault in Marcusen Park Thursday. Rocky Hulne/sports@austindailyherald.com

Faribault 1 1 3 0 1 0 — 6 9 3

Austin 4 5 1 1 3 2 — 16 12 2

Austin pitching: Jason Stoulil (W) 2 2/3 IP, 7 H, 4 BB, 5 ER, 2 K; Gasner, 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP; Ruroden, 1 IP, 1 BB, 0 R, 2 K

Austin hitting: Bollingberg, 0-for-5; Lewis, 0-for-4, R, BB; Conner, 3-for-3, 4 R, 2 SB, BB; Gasner, 2-for-3, RBI, 2 R, SB; Zynda, 1-for-2, 3 RBIs, R, HBP; Reinartz, 0-for-1, RBI, 2 BBs; Ruroden, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs; Horstmann, 1-for-3, SB, HBP; McAlister, 1-for-1, 3 R; Ciola, 2 R, 2 BBs, SB; Steene, 1-for-1, RBI