Greyhounds eliminate Tigers 2-0

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MANKATO -- Lady luck was with the New Ulm Cathedral Greyhounds in a dramatic 2-0 Section 2A elimination round win over Springfield Saturday at Franklin Rogers Park.

Pitching on just three days rest, Dusty Wilfahrt got out of bases-loaded jams in the fifth and seventh inning to keep the 14-9 Greyhounds alive.

They face Mankato Loyola at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Franklin Rogers Park. The winner will play Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Cathedral Coach Bob Weier praised his pitcher and team after the game.

"Dusty was pitching on heart the last couple innings," Cathedral Coach Bob Weier said after the game. "We showed some experience and character getting an out in the failed suicide squeeze. Jeff Schnobrich's two-out hit got us through in the clutch."

Wilfahrt walked the bases loaded with nobody out in the last of the seventh inning. After a strikeout, Springfield tried a suicide squeeze play. The bunt was missed and the base runner was caught in a rundown between third and home. Wilfahrt got his 12th strikeout to end the game.

Springfield's fifth-inning threat came on a walk, sacrifice bunt by Matt Hauger that became an infield hit -- Springfield's only hit -- a fielder's choice and walk loaded the bases. Wilfahrt ended the inning with a strikeout.

He often went to the curve ball, retiring the first 12 batters he faced, six by strikeout.

"My defense helped me a lot," Wilfahrt said after talking with a Mankato Bethany Lutheran College baseball coach after the game. "I wasn't 100 percent. My fast ball wasn't like it usually is."

Tiger pitcher Brian Hauth fanned the side in the first inning and wound up allowing just two hits. Cathedral threatened in the second inning on two infield errors and two walks. A Springfield double play kept the game scoreless.

Andy Klinger led off the Hound third with a walk. Andy Boyle's sacrifice bunt moved him to second. Freshman centerfielder Zach Sturm dove for Schnobrich's shot to center but the ball got by him and Klinger scored. Schnobrich scored on Adam Prochniak's single.

Springfield Coach Brady Schwab talked proudly of his team after the game.

"We've got a group of kids that were waiting for this moment," Schwab said. "They showed Tiger pride, playing tough to the last pitch, facing one of the top 5 pitchers in Minnesota. Hat's off to Dusty Wilfhart."

The Tigers finished the season 11-11.

Cathedral 002 000 0 -- 2 2 0

Springfield 000 000 0 -- 0 1 0

Wilfahrt and Prochniak; Hauth and Wilhelmi.