Eagles still unbeaten in Section 2-3A tourney

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- When you get good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting, you win games.

Saturday night, the New Ulm High Eagles got all three.

Bobby Wellmann tossed a five-hitter and struck out five as New Ulm High topped Mankato East 4-0 in the winner's bracket of the Section 2-3A baseball tournament.

New Ulm (20-3) will host the East/Chaska elimination-game winner at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Eagles would have to lose twice to be denied a berth in the Class 3A tournament.

"We got a little bit of everything tonight," said Eagles coach Jim Senske. "We got great pitching from Bob. We got people on and did the job there with some clutch hitting. And the defense played well tonight. We said it before that pitching and defense wins close ballgames, particularly at this stage and this level."

New Ulm High jumped on East starter and loser Doug Espenson (3-4) for two runs in the first inning on bunt singles by Eric Austvold and Craig Spelbrink. Jamie Hoffmann collected the third straight Eagle hit of the inning, lining an Espenson pitch into right field to load the bases. A wild pitch plated Austvold for a 1-0 lead and a Brandon Rolloff ground out to third scored Spelbrink for the second run of the inning.

"That was nice, getting that two-run lead in the first," said Hoffmann, who also singled and scored the Eagles' fourth run in the sixth inning. "It got us up and everybody played right away. They were seeded low (seventh) but have been playing good in the tournament."

New Ulm High squashed Cougar threats in the next three innings with solid defensive plays backing up the sophomore Wellmann.

In the second, Chris Bauer singled to lead off the inning but was quickly erased by the first of two New Ulm High double plays. Wellmann fanned Chris Hager to end the inning.

"Our defense was superb," said a grateful Wellmann. "They were awesome. I was getting by with changeups and fastballs today."

New Ulm High added its third run in the second inning when Rob Geistfeld singled to start the inning. Andy Stolt sacrificed pinchrunner Dan Kitzberger to second. One out later, Austvold collected his second hit of the game, driving in Kitzberger with a double to left field for a 3-0 lead.

New Ulm High's defense came up big again in the third.

Bauer led off by singling an 0-2 Wellmann pitch to right field. After Wellmann retired the next two hitters, Cougar lead-off hitter Matt Norland doubled to the corner in right field. Bauer was off and running on the pitch and was waved home by coach Eric Davis. But a perfect relay from Andy Stolt to first baseman Matt Schmidt to catcher Rob Geistfeld nailed Bauer at home for the third out.

"We work on those relay plays in practice. We executed when we had to execute," commented Senske.

The Eagles got another great defensive play in the fourth inning. After Espenson was retired for the first out, Ben Kaus lined a pitch headed for center field. But second baseman Spelbrink went to his right, dove and gloved the shot for the second out.

The Eagles added a final run in the sixth off Espenson, who had retired 10 straight hitters before Hoffmann singled to left. Hoffmann scored on Travis Boddy's line-drive single to right -- Boddy's second RBI of the game..

But it was the defense Wellmann appreciated. "It helps big-time," said Wellmann, who worked ahead of every hitter in the game before walking Espenson -- his only free pass of the game -- in the top of the seventh inning. "You just concentrate on your job because you know that your teammates will do theirs."

"We are in a good position right now, " said Senske. "But we have not won anything yet. (The Section 2-3A title) is not won yet. We could have to come back and play this team again and they have the pitching."

EAST 000 000 0--0 5 0

NUHS 210 001 x--4 7 1

WP :Wellmann.LP: Espenson. 2B: Norland (E), Austvold (NU), Bauer (E).