The Austin VFW Post 1216 baseball team is high on numbers this year and the squad was able to get a good look at its roster as it hosted a Non-District doubleheader with New Ulm in Marcusen Park Tuesday.

New Ulm won both games, taking the opener 7-3 in eight innings and winning the nightcap 8-4. Still, Austin was able to do some things to make it a better team in the long run.

“New Ulm has a good team and we were able to work on some situations which will help us in our own district tournament,” Austin head coach Mark Conner said.

Austin bound back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the first game at 3-3 after Jack Dankert had an RBI and Tyler Robertson knocked in two runs. But Austin (10-7-1 overall, 5-1 District) wasn’t able to take the lead.

Post 1216 has made some big strides this season.

“We’re having a good year. We have a talented squad and we just need to take care of business,” Conner said.

With 20 players on the roster, the Post 1216 team has presented its coaches with some interesting challenges and advantages. There are a lot of players to keep in the mix, but there is also plenty of depth at all positions.

“This is the first year Austin has had a full roster in maybe 10 years,” Conner said. “It takes a lot more management with that many guys and it’s an advantage in Marcusen where we have room for everybody in the dugout. It presents a lot of opportunities and what a great opportunity to get a kid working in the bullpen before he comes in, instead of moving him from the field.”

NU 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 4 — 7 6 3

Austin 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 X — 3 8 0

Austin pitching: Nate Murphy, 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 K; Ross Young, 1 IP, 2 BB, 1 ER, 1 K; Phillip Zynda, 1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 ER, 2 K; Michael O’Connor (L) 1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 5 BB, 4 ER, 3 K; Pete Conner, 1/3 IP, 0 R

Austin hitting: Jack Dankert, 3-for-3, RBI, R, 2 SB, BB; Tyler Robertson, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Conner, 0-for-4; Andrew Mueller, 1-for-3, SB, BB; Riley Retterath, 0-for-4; Luke Hawkshead, 1-for-3; Riley Wampler, 1-for-2, R, BB; Josiah Bothun, 0-for-2, R, BB; Hunter Guyette, 1-for-3, double

NU 3 2 1 0 0 0 2 — 8 9 2

Austin 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 — 4 7 4

Austin pitching: Jackson Bell (L) 2 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 5 ER, 3 K; Robertson, 2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER; Retterath, 2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 3 K; Hunter Johnson, 1 IP, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K

Austin hitting: Young, 2-for-4, double, RBI, R; Kaden Kneeskern, 1-for-4; Tony Ciola, 0-for-1, 2 BBs; Holden Londino-Green, 1-for-3, RBI, R, BB; O’Connor, 1-for-3; Johnson, 1-for-3; Andrew Schumacher, 1-for-4, RBI; Jake Lunt, 0-for-2, R, 2 BBs; Zynda, 0-for-3; Retterath, BB; Conner, R; Bell, 0-for-1