3 pitchers

led Eagles

to fifth at

3A tourney

NEW ULM -- Following the Eagles 5-2 win over Maple Grove to win the Class 3A state consolation title, I asked New Ulm High coach Jim Senske that if someone told him this team would finish fifth in the state, he responded with this answer.

"I would have said, 'Don't bet on it,'" said Senske, who saw this team record 24 wins. "We were pretty young and inexperienced, particularly with pitching. But that came around like gangbusters."

How well did the pitching staff fare in the sectionals and the state tournament?

In Section 2-3A play, in 35 innings, New Ulm High gave up six runs off the arms of Craig Spelbrink, Bobby Wellmann and Andy Stolt.

In the state Class 3A tournament, the Eagles' trio allowed only three runs in three games.

In all, 56 innings pitched, nine runs allowed.

I have watched a lot of high school baseball here in New Ulm over the past 16 years and I feel that Stolt, Wellmann and Spelbrink may have set a record for pitching that may never be touched again.

"We were very, very pleased with the pitching," said Senske. "We were close to being in the big one. The Brainerd pitcher (Nic Weiland) just was dominating over us. Then they lost a tough game to Cretin (who won the 3A title). This club was just a hair away from possibly being a potential state champion. We have some people coming back and maybe we will get another run at it next year.

"We were talking that it was possible for us -- if Craig had piched a shutout (in the win over Maple Grove -- that we could have given up only one run in three games and not win a state championship."

Stolt and Spelbrink did a great job as seniors and have a lot of memories to take with them.

Spelbrink tossed back-to-back two-hitters and then yielded only four hits in the win over Maple Grove as he finished his senior year 6-0. He was as good as his uncle, Doug Spelbrink, was on the mound. Stolt will be remembered for his shut-out performance against Mankato East to put the Eagles into the state tournament.

And it will be possible for fans to watch Stolt in the future. He accepted a baseball scholarship from Bethany Lutheran and also inked a New Ulm Kaiserhoff contract.

Bobby Wellmann may potentially become one of the top, if not the top, right-handed pitchers at New Ulm High. The sophomore matured a lot over the year as he ran his record to 9-1 with 57 strikeouts.

AUSTVOLD MAKES ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: New Ulm High sophomore center fielder Eric Austvold made the Class 3A all-tournament team. He was 6-for-10 in the tournament. Rob Geistfeld made the Class 3A all-state academic team.

TEAM HAD CHEMISTRY: Senior first baseman Matt Schmidt said one of the reasons for the Eagles' success this year was the chemistry.

"We all got along really well," he said. "There were some people who did not have a lot of confidence in us -- that lit the fire under us."

Schmidt said the pitching staff gave the defense a lot of confidence. "You always hear about schools having a No. 1 pitcher. We didn't have that this year; we had three No. 1 pitchers. We all felt comfortable with them. We knew that they could win the big games."

FOREST LAKE HAPPY WITH RAABE: Forest Lake fans had nothing but good things to say about first-year coach Brian Raabe. The former New Ulmite took his team to the Class 3A tournament this year. "We are just so happy with Brian," said one unidentified fan. "He has brought that New Ulm baseball thing to Forest Lake. He is a class act and that reflects on the kids and the program."

Raabe is a class act and he will have more teams in the state tournament. We wish him well.

Also, congratulations to another former New Ulmite coaching high school baseball. Mike Wenninger's Luverne Cardinals were second in Class 2A. He is another example of what hard work and love for the game will do.

NEW ULM FANS BIGGEST: If you were at the Class 3A tournament (and there were ALOT of New Ulm fans there) you know that New Ulm High had by far the most fans. That support is great. It has been there all year, not just in state tournament play. Fans like Dan Thorson, Rich Hoffmann, Mike Stolt and Lou Giestfeld, just to name a few, were always there. That means a lot to the kids and the team.

TOURNAMENT BEING SET: Plans are being finalized for the Eagles to host a four-team (with expansion to six or eight teams possible) tournament in May 2002. Lakeville (coached by former New Ulmite Mark Zeise), Park Center (Jeff Stoll), Forest Lake (Raabe) and New Ulm High will play.

BASKETBALL SIGNUPS: Players can sign up Monday for the New Ulm High basketball camp run by Eagles coach Pat Burmeister. Sixth- through eighth-graders can sign up at 8 a.m.; Entering freshmen through seniors at 10 a.m., and third- through fifth-graders at 12:30 p.m. If you have any questions, you can call Burmeister at (507) 354-8955.

KAISERHOFF-BREWERS HOME TODAY: Today, Father's Day, New Ulm Kaiserhoff and the New Ulm Brewers are home for a day-night doubleheader. In both the afternoon and evening games, all fathers will receive promotional prizes. There will also be reduced prices for fathers.