3A title erases painful images

NEW ULM -- Some people have called the New Ulm High baseball team a team of destiny.

Other have called them a group of over-achievers.

But at 7:52 p.m. Friday night, everyone in Minnesota called the Eagles the 2002 Class 3A champions after a 12-4 pasting of North St. Paul.

Perhaps this was a team that was destined to win the first state title in 19 appearances in the tournament. Twice, the Eagles advanced to the state title game and twice they came so close to a title. In 1970, they lost 2-1 to Albany in 12 innings and in 1994, they fell to Henry Sibley 4-2 in eight innings.

I remember that loss to Henry Sibley and one of the images that I will always remember was the pained expression of Eagles coach Jim Senske when the eventual winning runs in that game scored on a throwing error. So close but yet so far.

But Friday night that memory was forever erased.

Now, the image that has replaced that and will forever live with me is Senske in tears as he stood in the middle of his team moments after the game. His first state championship team. A team that, to a player, won the state title for him.

"We wanted to do this for coach Senske," said shortstop Jamie Hoffmann, who was 10-for-11 in the tournament, and had media from the Twin Cities in awe of his performance. "I love the guy. He is the best coach that I have ever had. He is so smart; I don't know how this has not happened before (for him). We wanted to do this for him for everything that he has done for New Ulm over the years."

"This will be looked at for years to come," said junior center fielder Eric Austvold. "When we go back to school next year, everyone will know (that we are state champions). This is awesome."

"It is a feeling that we have not experienced before," said Senske Saturday morning. "We finally got it done. I have had a lot of congratulatory phone calls and people who stopped over. One of the things that was so nice was how the players were so excited about winning it for coach. That was a very good feeling."

Senske said this was not his most talented team, but it was a team that "played with a lot of heart in the last three weeks. The bats came alive (44 hits, 37 runs in three state tournament games). We may have had more pitching depth (in the past) but those teams did not often have an abundance of runs to work with. This team scored runs for their staff and when you are pitching with a lead it is easier to be relaxed."

HOFFMANN HAS SUPER TOURNAMENT: Again, I want to know if there is a better high school shortstop in Minnesota than Hoffmann, who had two doubles and drove in eight runs in the tournament.

"He had an outstanding tournament," commented Senske. "He had a great overall year and his state tournament was exceptional. He has grown with the program -- he has grown in confidence. His success in hockey did not hurt him -- it probably helped him. He has gained a lot of poise and had a lot of leadership."

Hoffmann was drafted by Des Moines, Iowa, of the USHL Juniors and leaves for training camp Tuesday. Hoffmann has been selected to play in the Lion's All-Star Baseball Game Friday and Saturday in Chaska for the Southern All-Star Team.The South will play at 4:30 p.m. Friday against the Metro East and at 10 a.m. Saturday against the Metro South. Their third game is that same day at 4:30 p.m. against the Metro West.

Hoffmann will skate for three days in Des Moines before coming back to play in the Lion's All-Star game.

Also, the University of Minnesota has expressed interest in Hoffmann for baseball. More will be known sometime this week.

CARIVEAU WAS KEY: Three weeks ago, Chris Cariveau was No. 3 on the Eagles' pitching depth chart behind Bob Wellmann and Dusty Fleck. But fate put Cariveau, who was not even listed in the pitching statistics for the state tournament, in a role that will forever be linked to the Eagles' first state tournament title.

Cariveau went 2-0 in the tournament and in 13 innings allowed five runs on 12 hits.

"He really stepped up in the section game (a 6-2 win over St. Michael-Albertville)," Senske said. "He is 3-0 in his last three games. Part of that was because someone had to (step up). He took the ball and his confidence grew and it is fitting that he made the all-tournament team (as did Hoffmann, Fleck and Austvold). He gave us a real good performance particularly when Bob Wellmann, who had put us in a position to win the state, came up with a sore arm."

THORSON GROWS IN POSTSEASON: For most of the regular season, junior catcher Blake Thorson saw little time behind the plate. But in the section and state tournaments, Thorson was thrust into the starting job.

"He started out a little scared and nervous," said Senske. "But he kind of grew into it over the last month. He gained confidence as a receiver. He came on and, like a lot of other kids, did a very good job."

Senske also praised the play of Fleck, who was 7-for-15 with six RBI in the state tournament. "He had a fantastic year. I am not sure because I have not totaled up the season stats but he may have set a (school record) for RBI in a season. I think that he had 38 going into the tournament."

Also, inadvertently ommited was Tyson Anderson, who pitched the fifth inning of New Ulm High's 17-3 win over St. Francis. Anderson had two strike outs and gave up one hit.

STATE TITLE FOR EVERYONE: Senske said winning the state title "was something befitting all of our former players -- there were tons of them at the park," he said. "They were pulling for our team and our town and for me personally. I think that our players really felt like this win was for everyone that toiled in the sweat shop over the years before them. This belongs to a lot of other people who probably set a good standard early for us. This one was for them."

SENSKE REALIZES DREAM: With the Eagles winning 12-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Senske stood in the Eagles dugout, arms folded and knowing that the state title was New Ulm's after years of frustration.

"It was an emotional thing -- we have been disappointed at times. You do a lot of second-guessing and I don't know if I do a lot of that" he said. "I was feeling that this was great -- it was an emotional moment for our players, our coaching staff and probably for our town."

Senske said the bus ride back "was one where the kids were flying. They didn't need the bus ride back. It was the emotion of the moment."

There have been a lot of very good high school baseball players at New Ulm High. You can count then by the dozens and dozens.

But there are now are 18 players and four coaches who will forever be remembered for what they did June 14, 2002, at Midway Stadium in St.Paul in front of 2,204 fans.

Eric Austvold, Nate Carroll, Keith McClellan, Chris Cariveau, Pete Meier, Tyson Anderson, Dusty Fleck, Matt Suess, Isaac Forstner, Bob Wellmann, Dan Kitzberger, Jace Marti, Joe Peters, Brandon Rolloff, Kyle Marti, Dusty Farasyn, Jamie Hoffmann, Blake Thorson, Jim Senske, Dave Curry, Jim Schwarz and Dave Kunz.

Some people will call them "Destiny's Darlings." Some will label them the "Miracle Men"

But everyone will call them "New Ulm High School -- the 2002 Minnesota State Class 3A champions.

FINAL CALL FOR ALL-JOURNAL BASEBALL: Area high school baseball coaches are asked to send in their nominations for the 2002 All-Journal Baseball Team as soon as possible. Nominations must include this season and career stats (if applicable) awards won, coaches comments, etc.

You can fax them to The Journal at (507) 359-7362 or email to nujournalsports@yahoo.com.