Austin Post 1216 starts strong to beat Stewartville
Published 8:02 pm Tuesday, July 10, 2018
- Austin VFW first baseman Jackson Oehlfke reaches back during a pick-off attempt against Stewartville Tuesday night at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Austin Post 1216 VFW baseball team is closing in on the end of its regular season and its starting to feel some urgency. Austin, which currently is in fifth place in the District standings, used a big first inning to beat Stewartville 10-0 in five innings in Marcusen Park Tuesday.
Austin wasted no time in breaking the open the game as Cole Walter and Zach Bollingberg came up with back-to-back two-run singles to push the Post 1216 lead to 8-0 in the first inning
“Starting fast takes a lot of pressure off you and you can just go up to the plate and take good swings,” said Bollingberg, who went three-for-three in the win. “We know we have to start picking up and playing better baseball. Playoffs are coming and if we don’t play our best baseball, our season will come to an end.”
Austin VFW’s Cole Walter delivers against Stewartville Tuesday night. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Austin (8-3 District) was coming off a loss to Northfield and Post 1216 will have keep playing strong if it wants to host a Sub-District round on July 21 and July 22. The top four teams in the District serve as host sights.
Walter went two-for-two with a double at the plate and he also pitched five scoreless innings. He struck out five and allowed just three hits.
“My main goal on the mound when coach tells me to go in is to let my defense help me and just get outs,” Walter said.
Austin head coach Joe Ciola was glad to see his team come out strong on Tuesday and the team will look to stay consistent as it hosts Waseca at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“I’m very pleased with Cole’s pitching. He threw strikes and we got it done in five innings to save pitching,” Ciola said. “We’re looking at our fundamentals right now and we want to make the routine plays. We’re building up steam before the playoffs.”
Anthony Ciola jumps back to first on a pick-off attempt against Stewartville Tuesday night at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Stewartville 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 3 1
Austin 8 1 1 0 X — 10 8 0
Austin pitching: Cole Walter (W) 5 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 5 K
Austin hitting: Zach Bollingberg, 3-for-3, 2 RBIs, R, 3 SB; Anthony Ciola, 0-for-2, R, HBP; Dawson Mills, 0-for-2, HBP; Nick Dunlap, 1-for-2, R, BB; Sam Nelsen, 1-for-3, RBI, 2 R; Jackson Oehlfke, 1-for-2, RBI, SB, BB; Cal Fox, 0-for-2; Ian Bundy, 0-for-1, RBI, R; Walter, 2-for-2, double, 2 RBIs; Tanner Murphy, R; Cody Thompson, 2 R
