The Austin Greyhounds took their place atop the Minnesota Amateur Baseball State Tournament by winning five consecutive games to claim the Class B crown Monday in Cold Spring.

The Greyhounds (38-17), advancing to the state tournament for the second consecutive year and fifth in the program's short history, rocked Chaska 14-3 in seven innings in Monday's state tournament finale.

Ryan Hanson's first-inning grand slam surged the 'Hounds to an 8-0 lead and eventually the run-rule shortened victory. Austin pitcher Dave Meyer (3-0-1) was dubbed the Class B tournament Most Valuable Player, allowing only two earned runs in 16 2/3 innings pitched. He allowed 12 hits, struck out 16 and walked five in one start and three relief appearances.

The Greyhounds did not need Meyer in the championship duel. Chaska, winners of the loser's bracket, needed to beat Austin twice to take first place, but the Cubs clearly ran out of pitching against the vaunted Greyhounds offense.

Craig Selk, who was surprisingly not one of Austin's five All-Tournament selections, was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the championship game. Selk had four of Austin's 16 hits against Chaska, and his grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning in the opening round against Hutchinson may have been the biggest at-bat of Austin's title run.

"We were 38-17 this year, and we only 10-runned two other teams (Mankato and Faribault)," said Austin player/coach Joe Serratore. "They (Chaska) were the best team we played in the tournament. We had eight up on the board before they could even react to it."

Austin had five singles and two walks before Hanson, the 'Hounds' leadoff hitter, came back to the plate for his second hit of the inning -- a grand slam over the right-field fence. Austin chased Chaska starting pitcher Matt Lane from the mound after he had gotten only one out in the top of the first, and the Greyhounds galloped to an 8-0 lead.

A trio of Greyhound pitchers kept Chaska relatively quiet. Bryan Toov went five innings in the start, allowing two earned runs and six Cubs hits. Albert Lea draftee Isaac Walton threw one inning, and Scott Meyer got the final inning of work as Austin's 11-run lead ended the championship game early.

"I'm very proud of the way the guys played," Serratore said. "This is a huge tradition in town, but people have forgotten about it."

Austin beat rival Rochester 3-2 in the tournament semifinals, running their consecutive postseason streak to six games against the Royals. Nick Dolan went 6 1/3 innings, but Scott Meyer got the win in relief. Dave Meyer, Scott's older brother, picked up the save for pitching a perfect ninth.

"That good rivalry continues," Serratore said. "We're older, we're deeper, we've got more pitching and we've got more depth in the field."

In addition to Dave Meyer, the Greyhounds placed four others on the All-Tournament team. Matt Cano, Tim Kaplan, Nick Rohne and Hanson were tabbed to the Class B team.

"Selk and (Chris) Pack should have been there," Serratore said. "Nick Rohne played an unbelievable tournament. For coming up with the hits that he did, he played outstanding."

Nine players had hits in the championship game for the Greyhounds, led by Selk's four. Both of Hanson's hits were in the first inning, including the game-winning grand slam. Cano, Tate Cummins and Kaplan each had two singles, while Rohne, Garrett Swank, Mitch Mullenbach and John Frein had one single each. Mullenbach's knock drove in a pair of runs, and Swank added an RBI as well.

Serratore walked with the bases loaded in his only at-bat, driving in a run. Matt Raso also walked in a pinch-hitting role.

Linescore:

Austin8104001--14161

Chaska0210000--372

Bryan Toov, Isaac Walton (6) Scott Meyer (7) and Nick Rohne; Matt Lane, Matt Logeais (1), Andy Deuwalter (5), Chris Nelson (7) and Justin Johnson. WP -- Toov (1-0). LP -- Lane. 2B -- AUS: Rohne, Selk; CHA: Brown, Keenan. HR -- AUS: Hanson.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.