Senske thrilled by

MSHSL induction

NEW ULM -- New Ulm High baseball coach Jim Senske said that he was thrilled to be inducted into the Minnesota State High School League Hall of Fame Thursday at the Grand Ballroom of the St. Paul RiverCentre.

Senske was one of 10 persons formally welcomed to the MSHSL Hall of Fame.

"I am thrilled about receiving that award because it is something that comes from your peers," he said. "(New Ulm High principal) Dick LaPatka nominated me and then I had supporting letters from several people including (assistant baseball coach) Dave Curry, (former Waseca baseball coach) Tink Larson, Dave Stead (executive director of the MSHSL) former New Ulm mayor Carl Wyczawski and Lowell Searcy of Brainerd. So it is nice when you are honored by your peer group."

Senske, who is also in the New Ulm Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame, New Ulm Legion Post 132 Hall of Fame and the Hamline University Hall of Fame said that it is also " an honor to see your name with some great people in not only athletics but fine arts. It makes you feel significant. It makes you feel that you have had a lot of effect on a lot of young lives."

Beginning his 39th season as the baseball coach at New Ulm High, Senske recalled that after graduation from Hamline University, he had three opportunties to teach and coach.

"But I came to New Ulm only because it was the one place where I could get a chance to coach baseball right away. I was going to be Vern Zahn's assistant. I was a college athlete and wanted the chance to coach and I am glad that I made that decision.'

In that time, Senske has become the all-time winningest high school baseball coach in Minnesota history with 660 careers wins. He also had his picture grace the pages of "Faces in the Crowd" in Sports Illustrated and was a three-time WCCO Coach of the Week selection. He earned the National High School Coaches Association Coach of the Year and also has won the Dick Seibert Award.

In his 39 years, he has had chances to coach college baseball "but maybe it was meant to be that I was to stay here. New Ulm is a nice town to coach baseball.

"I think that in New Ulm there is a genuine interest in the game of baseball -- an abnormal number of people who support it, coach it, volunteer for it. New Ulm also has two nice fields and has just a lot of community interest, perhaps more so then elsewhere.

"I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award. Thanks especially to my wife Katie, children Kim, Eric and Matthew. It pleases me that my mother, brother and sisters and their spouses are here. The Minnesota State High School League is really honoring New Ulm with its strong baseball tradition with this award."

STOLT, REINARTS AT BETHANY: Andy Stolt and Brandon Reinarts, 2001 graduates of New Ulm High and New Ulm Cathedral, respectively, are playing baseball for Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.

"Andy has started two games for us on the mound," said Bethany coach Derek Woodley. "The first time out, he threw real well. He pitched six innings, gave up two runs -- both earned -- three hits while striking out four." The game was played in Cocoa, Fla., against Academy Baseball from Quebec.

Stolt's second game was not as impressive, going 4 2-3 innings and giving up eight runs against North Iowa Community College. "He fell behind the hitters in the second start and he was pitching on three days rest, which during the season he will come on four days rest. We had him on pitch count but the difference was falling behind the hitters and he did not locate pitches well. (B ut) he will be one of our top four starters."

Woodley said that Reinarts, a catcher, " is doing well at times. He hit .143 on the trip -- he started three games. What we are trying to do is to improve some of his catching techniques. He is learning as we go -- he has to become more flexible. He is coming along fine."

SCHUGEL AT WALDORF: Former Cathedral shortstop Joey Schugel, now at Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, is doing well early in the year.

Schugel is hitting .100 (2 for 22 at the plate, has scored two runs) but one of those hits was a grand slam. He has driven in five runs so far. He also is 2-for-2 in stolen bases.

"That (average) does not concern me," said Waldorf coach Brian Grunzke. "In college baseball you have pitchers that can throw three pitches for strikes and throw them when they need to. It is early -- we had 11 games in Texas so I am not going to have that make or break the season."

Schugel will either start at shortstop or first base for Waldorf and will hit either fifth or sixth. "He is a good athlete and works hard and has some skills. He will do fine. I have had players hit .075 and spring and hit.400 in the season," said Gunzke

BLETHEN TO RETURN: Bailey Blethen has indicated that he will be back next season as boys basketball coach at Cathedral.

SCHUSTER AT BEMIDJI STATE: Oliver Schuster of Brownton is a member of the 2002 Bemidji State team as a pitcher. Schuster, a freshman, played at McLeod West.