Portage County Gazette

By John Kemmeter

Plover native Austin Schulfer remained unbeaten to start his professional baseball career, as he earned the win on the mound for the rookie-level Elizabethton Twins (Tenn.) Saturday, July 14.

Austin Schulfer

Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 19th Round of the Major League Baseball Draft last month from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Schulfer came on in relief and struck out three, walked one and allowed two earned runs on three hits over five innings in a 15-5 win for Elizabethton over the Kingsport Mets Saturday in Kingsport, Tenn.

Pitching for Elizabethton of the Appalachian League, Schulfer got the start on the mound in his professional debut against the Bristol Pirates June 22, and had a no-decision in a 19-5 win, after he allowed one earned run on three hits, struck out three and walked one in two and 2/3 innings.

He earned the win in relief in a 3-2 victory over the Danville Braves June 30, after he struck out two and walked two, and allowed one earned run on two hits over three innings.

Schulfer received a no-decision in his second career start, as he allowed one earned run on five hits and struck out two and walked none in three and 1/3 innings against Danville July 8, while the game remained tied at 1-1 until the top of the ninth inning, when Danville scored two runs and won 3-1.

Elizabethton bounced back with five wins in a row heading into last Saturday at Kingsport, where Schulfer came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The former Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) standout twice faced Kingsport center fielder Jarred Kelenic, who became the highest-drafted player ever from Wisconsin when the Mets picked him sixth overall last month from Waukesha West High School, and Schulfer got Kelenic to fly out to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning and ground out in the seventh inning.

With the win, Schulfer improved to 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA this season, with 10 strikeouts and four walks in 14 innings pitched.

The victory was the sixth in a row for Elizabethton, which had its seven-game winning streak snapped July 16, while the team sits in first place in the Appalachian League West at 16-9 overall.