By DALE KUGATH
Scoop Sports Editor

AUSTIN - It was a disastrous end to a disappointing summer.

The Waseca Braves were the first of four teams to be eliminated from the Section 2B Tournament as the Austin Greyhounds pummeled the Braves 24-5 in seven innings at Austin Aug. 11. Waseca defeated the Greyhounds twice during the regular season.

Waseca took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning. Chris Glynn spanked a leadoff double, Kelvin Nelson hustled out a bunt single and Tom Kordiak delivered a sacrifice fly to left field.

However, the lead was short lived as Waseca southpaw Steve Hovland could not get out of the first inning. With two outs and no one on base, the next nine Greyhound batters reached. Before the inning was over, eight hits and two Waseca errors helped Austin score eight runs. Tyler Leopold had a two-run double for the Greyhounds.

The Braves battled back with three runs in the second inning to cut the deficit to 8-4.
Scott Hanson and Erik Simmons started the inning with singles, Grady Glynn stroked an RBI double and Jim Loonan delivered a two-out, two-run single.

A two-out unearned run stretched Austin's lead to 9-4 after two innings.

Nelson reached on an error and Loonan drove him home with an RBI double as Waseca pulled within 9-5 in the fourth inning.

But, the Greyhounds got to reliever Jay Watje for three runs and four hits, including a solo home run by Matt Raso, to make it a 12-5 game after four innings.

Austin paraded 14 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring 10 times on just four hits. Four walks, two hit batters and a Waseca error also helped.

Craig Braaten lined a two-run single for the Greyhounds.

Three hits, including a two-run single by Nick Rohne, and three walks helped the Greyhounds score their final two runs in the last of the sixth inning.

The Braves managed just two base runners over the final three innings.

Hovland was the loser, leaving him 2-6 for the summer. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. Hovland walked two and did not record a strikeout.

Watje hurled three and two-third innings, allowing eight hits and eight earned runs. Watje walked two, hit a batter and fanned one.

Kordiak was roughed up for four earned runs and two hits in two-thirds of an inning. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out two.

Chris Glynn threw the final inning, giving up two hits and two earned runs. He walked three and struck out one.

Seven Austin players had more than one hit. Raso and Nick Bowe led the way with three apiece. Rohn, Braaten, Leopold, John Kirby and John Friem nailed two apiece.
Braaten scored four runs and five players crossed home three times. Rohne drove in three runs for the winners.

Bryn Toon earned the win, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in five and two-third innings. He issued one walk and fanned two.

Tom Kusak retired all four batters he faced, striking out one.

Loonan was the only Brave with two hits, driving in three runs.

Grady Glynn, Simmons, Hanson, Watje, Nelson and Chris Glynn had one hit apiece.

Austin finished with 18 hits, committed three errors and stranded eight base runners.

The Braves totaled eight hits, were guilty of five errors and left seven men stranded.

The Rochester Royals upset the Austin Blue Sox 8-7 in the other second-round game, guaranteeing them a state berth.

The Greyhounds and Blue Sox play for the second state tourney berth.

The Braves, who once won at least 20 games a year for 19 consecutive summers, suffered their fourth straight losing season and fifth in the last six summers.

Waseca, which was 11-13 this year, lost its final six games.

The Braves are 48-55 over the last four years and 74-81 the past six summers.