Eagle baseball remains undefeated

By JEN SEAVEY

Journal Sports Editor

NEW ULM -- As Eagle coach Jim Senske approaches the 700-win mark, the New Ulm baseball team continues to draw looks from media statewide, but team members say that the attention has actually spurred the team on in their 9-1 win over St. James and their 3-1 win over Marshall Tuesday.

"I think it made us relax a little," said senior Derik Johnson, who was 2-3 with three RBIs in the game against St. James. "Most of the pressure is on the coach."

In the first inning against St. James (2-9), the Eagles came out and scored five runs right off the bat, with the help of two throwing errors by St. James third baseman Jason Lewis. After Keith McClellan was thrown out at first, Nate Carroll hit a single to left field and later scored when the first throwing error landed Eric Austvold on second base. Johnson then hit an RBI single, followed by a Kyle Marti single. Blake Thorson rounded it off, reaching on the second throwing error and being hit home by Pete Meier's RBI double.

"I think we knew it was a big day for coach," Johnson said. "We got our bats going in the first inning and came through with a little intensity."

After the first inning, St. James switched Lewis and right fielder Derek Lanoue. After that, the Saints committed just one error, only managing four hits total, and scored their one run in the fourth inning when Jake Reuter hit a single to drive Robbie Wessler home.

The fourth inning was another big one for the Eagles, scoring four runs off of four hits, including a double by pitcher Tyson Anderson and Johnson's two-RBI single.

Anderson also is credited with the win, pitching the first five innings, striking out six, walking two, and giving up three hits and one run. In the fifth inning, Senske sent in subs for everyone in the field but Anderson. Joe Peters came in the sixth inning to face four batters, walking one and striking out two, giving up no hits. Nick Breu pitched the seventh inning, striking out two and giving up one hit.

In the second game, a few but costly defensive errors hurt Marshall as they took the 3-1 loss.

The Eagles scored two runs in the third inning with two outs when Johnson hit a fly to center that was dropped by Marshall center fielder Chris Schroeder. In the fifth inning, New Ulm scored their other run after the leadoff batter reached on error, went to second on a passed ball, then scored on Johnson's single. Kyle Marti was 2-3 in the game.

"Marshall is a good ballclub," New Ulm coach Jim Senske said. "If not for defensive errors, that game would still be being played. They booted a big one when they dropped that ball."

Sam Wiener was 2-3 for Marshall with a double and a run scored, and Andy Behnke drove in their only run.

Scoring the win for the Eagles was Bob Wellmann, who pitched a full game, giving up a double, two singles and a walk, striking out seven. Radley Heinis was the losing pitcher, giving up two walks, four base hits and striking out one in five innings. Jesse Vandlerbeke gave up two hits, one walk, and struck out one in relief.

"We needed to hit the ball harder [against Marshall], particularly with people in scoring position," Senske said. "We didn't execute with a squeeze bunt. We need to execute in a ball game like this one. We won, probably ugly, but we won the ball game, and that is significant."

Marshall is now 7-4, and the Eagles (12-0) play Park Center at 5 p.m. Friday, and play Forest Lake at 7:30 p.m. or 20 minutes after the first game at Johnson Park. New Ulm then plays Lakeville at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Round-Robin tournament.

The New Ulm B-squad defeated St. James 11-1. Brad Kraus was the winning pitcher, and Jon Curry hit two triples and had four RBIs. The team is now 12-1.

Nicollet 15, GHEC/ML 5 (4)

Nicollet 13, GHEC/ML 3 (5)

COURTLAND -- The Nicollet Raiders easily handled Grenada-Huntley-East Chain/Martin Luther in both games of the double header on Tuesday.

In game one Nicollet won 15-5 in four innings.

The winning pitcher was Mike Rosin. Rosin pitched four innings, had five runs, four hits and six strikeouts.

On the offensive side Rosin went 203, had two runs and an RBI. Cody Wilking went 2-3 with a run, four RBIs and three stolen bases. Justin Fischer was 2-2 from the plate, had two runs and two RBIs. There was a total of 12 stolen bases in the first game.

The losing pitcher was Wade Blazejak. He pitched two innings, nine earned runs, seven hits and two strikeouts in the losing effort. Jeremy Wiederhoeft was two for three from the plate with a run and an RBI.

In game two Nicollet won 13-3 in five innings.

The winning pitcher was Jake Anderson of Nicollet. He had five innings pitched, three earned runs and four hits.

On the offensive end Anderson was 2-3 with three RBIs and a run. Josh Allerson was 2-2 with three runs, and two stolen bases.

Mike Rosin was 2-3 with a double and a triple. He also had five RBIs and a run. Nick Stevensen was 3-3 at the plate with two runs and an RBI.

The losing pitcher was Tyler Nawrocki who pitched four innings, five runs, seven hits and two strikeouts.

Nowrocki went 1-2 from the plate with a double and a run. Forrest Hungerhoft also went 1-2 with a double, a run and an RBI.

Nicollet had 21 stolen bases on the night and everyone in the Raider lineup had at least one hit. They are now 8-7 overall and 4-5 in the Valley Conference. They will play Madelia-Truman next Thursday at seven p.m.