Greyhounds start fast

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- When a team gets its leadoff hitter on, good things usually happen.

Monday afternoon at Johnson Park, the New Ulm Cathedral baseball team got their leadoff hitter on in both the first and second innings and used that as a springboard for seven runs en route to a 9-4 win over McLeod West in Tomahawk Conference baseball action.

Cathedral, now 1-1 in the conference and 2-1 overall, will play Minnesota Valley Lutheran today, 4:30 p.m., at Johnson Park.

Mike Hall went the first five innings to get credit for the win as he struck out three and allowed seven hits. Joey Penkert finished up the final two innings, giving up one hit.

Matt Hranicka took the loss for McLeod West, giving up all nine runs in five innings.

Joey Schugel paced the Hounds' offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Hall also drove in two runs.

Hranicka and Nate Bussler each collected two hits for McLeod West. Chad Genz produced a two-run triple.

"It was nice to see our kids come out of the blocks in a hurry like they did today," said Hound head coach Bob Weier. "Our first two games, we were really slow offensively. Today, we seemed to come to the plate with a purpose; we seemed to come to the game with a purpose. Maybe it is coming home and playing on our home park. But it was sure nice to see them put the ball in play and run the bases the way that we want them to."

Cathedral would have to use that aggressive plate performance as the Falcons would score an early run off of Hall. Brandon Karg led off with a walk and used a passed ball to reach second. He would score when Hranicka helped his own cause with an RBI single to rightfield. Nate Bussler followed with a single and Travis Mons coaxed a walk off of Hall to load the bases with one out.

But then a big play by the Hounds' defense supplied a little of the impetus for the home half of the first inning. Travis Bussler rapped a fly ball to Aaron Kiecker in rightfield. Kiecker made the catch and his throw to catcher Brandon Reinarts was just in time to nail Hranicka at home for an inning-ending double play.

"He (Kiecker) made a nice throw and Brandon did a nice job at the plate," commented Weier. "Those are plays that turn ballgames around; those are plays that help you win ballgames."

Cathedral would storm back with three runs in the bottom of the inning as Reinarts led off with a walk, stole second and took third on an error on the throw. He would score on Schugel's 3-1 double to leftfield. Schugel took third on a Hranicka wild pitch, one of four in the game for the righthander, and Hall brought in Schugel with a bloop double to center for a 2-1 lead. Hall scored on an Kiecker single.

The Hounds increased that lead to 7-1 in the home half of the second inning. Jacob Mertz, Dusty Wilfahrt and Reinarts all walked to start the inning before Mertz trotted home on a Schugel single. Wilfahrt would be brought home by Hall's sacrifice fly and Reinarts scored on a delayed double steal for a 6-1 lead. Penkert singled prior to Schugel scoring on a double steal for a 7-1 cushion.

The Falcons came back with two runs in the fourth. Oliver Schuster doubled and Josh Wieweeck singled before Genz belted a two-run triple to centerfield.

McLeod West added their final run in the fifth on a throwing error.

A Kiecker one-out walk in the fifth inning sparked a two-run tally for Cathedral. He stole second and scampered to third on a wild pitch before Wilfahrt singled him home. Wilfahrt later scored on the fourth wild pitch of the game.

"Joey (Schugel) is generating some offense," Weier said. "We need offense from out returning players. The other ones know who they are and they have to get some more offense."

Weier said that Hall put on a gutsy performance on the mound. "He is a gutty performer who kept on battling and never quit. I am sure that Mike would have wanted to throw a better game and there are better games ahead for him."

McLEOD WEST 100 210 0 -- 4 8 2

CATHEDRAL 340 020 x -- 9 7 0

WP--Hall, LP--Hranicka. 2B--Schugel (CHS), Hall (CHS), Schuster (M), N.Bussler (M). 3B--Genz (M).

22W0Rþ2styl €ÿÿW