MLB draft takes on local flavor

NEW ULM -- Today could be a special day for New Ulm native Aaron Heitzman as the amateur draft is held by Major League Baseball.

And if you go by publications like Baseball America, Heitzman will be a mid- to late-round selection.

Heitzman, however, is low-key about the upcoming process that could change his future.

"Right now, I have heard nothing about (the draft)," he said prior to his pitching for the New Ulm Kaiserhoff Sunday night. The lefthander struck out nine in getting the win.

He said that the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Twins, Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers have all shown interest in him at one time or another this year.

He said that he will not know what he will do until he finds out what round he is drafted. "I still have two years of college (Minnesota State-Mankato) left, and I want to finish that up. But getting drafted and playing professional baseball is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You have to go no matter what round you get picked."

This year, Heitzman was 6-4 for the Mavericks with a 2.08 ERA.

When talking to scouts, Heitzman said that they "want to get your fastball in the low 90's; that is the average major league fastball. I am not quite there yet (86-87 mph). I really don't know what to expect; I am going into this with a good attitude and hopefully, good things will come."

WEIER FEELS HOUNDS WILL REBOUND: Cathedral High baseball coach Bob Weier feels that his team will rebound after a tough 3-2 loss to Sleepy Eye St. Mary's when the Greyhounds face Mankato Loyola today, 5 p.m., at Mankato's Franklin Rogers Park.

"Kids have a tendency to bounce back and forget things," he said before his team faces the Crusaders in an elimination game. The winner will meet St. Mary's on Thursday and would have to beat the Knights twice to advance to the Class 1A state tournament. "Hopefully, this group can forget that game and move on. We have had a couple of days since that game to refocus ourselves."

Weier said, when the Hounds loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out and the score tied at 2-2, "I did entertain the thought of a suicide squeeze bunt. The situation earlier in the game (where the runner coming home from third was out at home) did not have anything to do with my decision in the seventh inning. But I thought that being a force-out situation at any base was a little bit negative. Plus, the pitcher was holding Joey (Schugel) on third working out of a stretch. Those are all indications that it would almost have to be a perfect bunt (from Hans Biebl).

"The other thing is that I thought that Hans had the ability -- and I still think that he does -- to put the ball in the outfield, or put the ball in play somewhere. I was probably depending on Hans and I think that the odds were more in our favor for Hans to hit the ball into the outfield than at that point to lay down a perfect squeeze bunt.

"We face Loyola (today) and we had that big inning (eight runs) to beat them last time (11-0). They are a team that plays good defense and capable of scoring runs. We need to play good ball in order to win."

WELLMANN GETS STRIKES: In the recent issue of Sports Illustrated, there is an article on "First-Pitch Strikes" and how important they are to the success of a pitcher.

First-pitch strikes are either a called or swinging strike, a foul ball, or a base hit.

Saturday night, New Ulm High's Bob Wellmann improved to 9-1 on the season and showed the importance of getting that first-pitch strike. Of the 25 hitters that he faced (only four over the minimum) he got first-pitch strikes on 19 of them, which means that he worked ahead of 76 percent of the hitters. That gives the pitcher a decided advantage with the hitter in the hole right away. You make him hit your pitches, not the other way around.

BOB BUDAHN MEMORIAL AWARD GIVEN OUT: This year, the first Bob Budahn Memorial Award was given out honoring the late Bob Budahn. Bob, better known as "Buddah," was very involved in the youth baseball programs in New Ulm. He spent endless hours coaching in various leagues and helping with all aspects of the game. Buddah was well-liked and respected by all that knew him and played for him.

The winner need not be the best player on the team, but must

* Have love and devotion for the game.

* Be of good character on and off the field.

* Be a team player.

* Lead by example.

* Be coachable.

* Always practice and play to the best of his ability.

* Show respect for his fellow teammates, coaches and teachers.

* Be respected by his teammates, coaches and teachers.

* Play with heart.

The winner of the first Bob Budahn Memorial Award is his son, Andy.

STOLL APPLIES FOR JOB: Darrin Stoll, former Cathedral teacher and B-squad boys basketball coach, has applied for the head basketball coaching position at Sleepy Eye High School. Stoll, who is teaching in Houston, Texas, would be a great selection for the job. He knows the game and is respected by his players. Sleepy Eye High could not go wrong in hiring Darrin.

EAGLES GAME POSSIBLY CHANGED: If Mankato East defeats Chaska today in an elimination baseball game in Section 2-3A, the East-New Ulm High game would be played here in New Ulm WEDNESDAY NIGHT instead of Thursday due to East's graduation that night. If Chaska wins, the game will be played Thursday. New Ulm needs to win one game to earn a state tournament trip.