Eagles, Scarlets put on quite a show

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Perhaps a baseball fan wearing a Sibley East baseball hat said it best after the New Ulm Eagles and Mankato West completed nine innings of baseball knotted at 4-4.

"If the fans here don't like this game -- win or lose -- the fans don't like baseball."

It was one of the best high school baseball games that I have seen in my 16 years of covering sports.

There were a lot of heroes for the Eagles in their 8-6, 12-inning win over the Scarlets that, in all probability, will earn New Ulm the top seed in Section 3A.

First, there is Kyle Marti, who drove in five runs and eventually won the game with a three-run homer in the top of the 12th inning. Marti also stole home in the 10th inning -- his first ever steal of home -- that temporarily gave New Ulm a 5-4 lead before the Scarlets tied the game in the bottom of the inning.

Then there was right-handed pitcher Tyson Anderson who held the Big Nine Conference baseball champions in check going 11 1/3 innings. He worked out of jams in the sixth, eighth and 11th innings when Mankato West had the potential game-winning run on third base with two outs.

And there was right fielder Matt Suess who made a diving catch of a sinking line drive off of the bat of pinch hitter Jeremy Lund in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Marti said after the game that his eventual game-winning home run was something that he thought that he owed to the team.

"I was the reason that we were still playing," he said, referring to a throw in the dirt that he tried to knock down in the 10th inning. The throw permitted West to tie the game. "It was frustrating when we took that (5-4) lead and they tied it up. But our team came through and that is all that matters."

Anderson, who threw well over 100 pitches in the game, said that when Marti unloaded on an Adam Sorenson pitch in that 12th inning, "it brought a smile to my face instantly. I love that kid now."

Anderson and the rest of the Eagles knew how important this game was to win, with the victor getting the top seed and home field.

"It is big getting home field and playing at Johnson Park. This was a big win," Anderson said.

Eagle coach Jim Senske said that the game may give the Eagles the top seed in the section.

"We still play Minnetonka (at home Monday at 6 p.m.) and they play (at) Mankato East on Tuesday. The win might help us in the seedings, and the only way that it helps us is that it we get to play in a park (Johnson Park) that is a little bigger than (Franklin Rogers) where you don't get beat by the home run real often. However, Mankato has some kids that can really hit the ball hard. I would not be looking forward to playing them again."

Ironically, Ethan Anderson, who coached at New Ulm three years ago, coached most of the New Ulm players when they were freshmen.

AUSTVOLD TO MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO: Eagle center fielder Eric Austvold signed with Minnesota State, Mankato last week, which brought a smile to Maverick head coach Dean Bowyer's face.

"His speed really impressed me," Bowyer said. "He is not big, but he is husky and has power. He came to our prospect camp, and we liked his swing. And he has a passion for the game -- he loves the game of baseball, but who doesn't in New Ulm."

Bowyer said that next season "more freshmen will have the chance to play varsity baseball. He will have a chance to do that -- he is a left-handed hitter. The thing that I like about him is he has that running speed. We are excited

"Realistically, he has a chance to play on the varsity next year as a freshman," he said. "I have only had eight players in my 27 years as coaching play varsity ball without first playing JV. But Eric could do that."

Bowyer is also courting Eagle pitcher Bob Wellmann, as is South Dakota State. The University of Minnesota has also shown interest in Wellmann.

SENSKE ON ROSEN SPORTS SUNDAY: New Ulm High School baseball coach Jim Senske will be featured on "Rosen's Sports Sunday" tonight at 10:30 p.m. on Channel 4.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: The applications for the New Ulm Baseball Association Scholarship are now at all three high schools in New Ulm.

Each year, the NUBA awards a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior from each of New Ulm's three high schools. Applications should be handed back to the school's athletic director by no later than May 27.

AWHL TRYOUTS: Tryouts for the Lonestar Cavlary of the America West Hockey League will be held at the New Ulm Civic Center May 23-25.

NO MANKATO TWINS: There were a lot of people asking why the Mankato Twins suddenly folded last week, leaving the Southern Minny League minus one team as well as the section.

"It is a shame that Mankato does not have amateur baseball this year," said Minnesota State Board member Fred Roufs of Mankato. "What happened is that several of the older players all of a sudden decided to retire at the same time."

Roufs said that the state may bring either Faribault or Owatonna into the section.

Waseca, Marshall and the New Ulm Kaiserhoff are the other teams in the section. The Kaiserhoff has signed John Ahern from the now-defunct Mankato Twins for this season.