The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Sports

Related Photos

  • Pat Christman

    legion6-27

June 28, 2009

Austin beats Mankato American

Mankato National also falls

By Tom Lemmermann

MANKATO — Austin got on the board early with multiple runs in the first and second innings Saturday and defeated Mankato Legion Post 11 American 8-5 in a pool play game of the Jim Mulvihill Memorial baseball tournament at Wolverton Field.

After scoring two runs in the first inning, Austin (3-11) batted around the order in the second. With the bases loaded and no one out, Steve Rizzi hit an RBI single. Adam Hemman drove in two more with a single to cap off the three-run second.

Mankato (4-8) answered in the top of the third when Zach Woodside walked, stole second and scored.

Austin scored again in the bottom half of the inning off relief pitcher Tyler Swanson after Nate Paris walked, stole second and scored on a single from Andrew Orcutt.

Mankato cut into the five-run lead with a big rally in the fourth started by Swanson’s single and Taylor Ries’ double. Dylan Fast followed with an RBI single, and Ries scored on a throwing error during the play.

After a single and a stolen base from Woodside, Britt Vaubel hit a two-run single to left-centerfield to cut the lead to one.

In the bottom half of the inning, Dylan Monson scored on a sacrifice fly from Mark Harber and John Kirby scored on a passed ball after reaching earlier in the inning with a double.

With runners on first and second with only one out, Mankato seemed poised for another rally, but a sharp grounder up the middle by Ries was snagged by a diving Rizzi at second base, who turned the 4-3 double play to end the inning.

Mankato’s best defensive play came in the bottom half of the inning when shortstop Brandon Prange made a leaping, backhand catch to end a minor threat from Austin.

After a scoreless sixth, Kirby earned the save with a strikeout in the seventh.

Mankato outhit Austin 10-8 in the game.

“They got off to a rough start, but they fought back. That’s all you can really ask for,” said Mankato coach Ben Smith. “It’s tough to lose when you have more hits, but that’s baseball.”

Woodside led the Mankato offense with three hits, two runs and two stolen bases. Swanson had three hits and a run for Mankato, and Vaubel’s two RBIs led the team.

Kyle Moret pitched the first two innings of the game for Mankato, surrendering five hits, five runs and three walks. Swanson pitched the last four innings, allowing three hits, three runs and three walks while striking out two batters. More importantly, Swanson left Austin scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings.

“(That was) definitely a huge lift,” Smith said. “He struggled the last couple times out so it was good to get him out there and have him get some confidence back.”

Hemman led Austin with three hits and three RBIs. Harber drove in two runs for Austin.

Mankato faces Kasson in the fifth-place game at 11:30 a.m. today at Wolverton Field.

Champlin 6, Mankato Post 11 National 2


Brock Lloyd pitched a complete game, but Mankato Post 11 National lost 6-2 to Champlin in pool play of the Jim Mulvihill Memorial Legion baseball tournament Saturday at Wolverton Field.

Lloyd allowed nine hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. He gave up six runs, three of which were unearned.

Joe Kopel led the Post 11 National offense with two hits, including an double. Dan Larsen was 2 for 4 with a double, and Mitch Kleist collected an RBI single.

Post 11 National (8-4) plays Austin in the third-place game at 9:30 a.m. today at Franklin Rogers Park.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Sports