Dominant is the only way to describe state champs

NEW ULM -- Webster's Dictionary defines the word dominate as, "to rule over, control; to tower above, overshadow."

That word and its meanings describes what the Sleepy Eye Indian high school baseball team did in the last few days, winning the Class 1A title in Chaska on Friday night.

And there, they left little doubt in anyone's minds who the best team was as they dominated as no other team has in recent years in state tournament play.

Their wins consisted of victories of 11-1, 11-0 and 4-0 as the new millennium Indians outscored opponents 26-1 in state tournament play.

About 13 hours after his team won their 25th game of the season and their first state baseball crown since 1981, head coach Bruce Belseth was still a little bit in shock as to how dominant his team was.

"It has been quite a ride for us," he said. "Before the state tournament began, we talked as a team about how quickly things go; it is like a blur because everything happens so fast. But it is a happy and good feeling."

Belseth's teams had lost in the last two years in the sub-sectionals with basically the same players. But is was the experience that this team brought, as seniors, that made the difference.

"I have always said that this year's group of seniors is the strength of our team. When you put a pitcher the quality of a Cole Deibele or Jim Eckstein on the mound, you feel comfortable. Our defense playing behind them felt that too."

Belseth said that he was "surprised" by how easily his team rolled through competition at state.

"I don't think that you ever imagine to be that easy. It was certainly nice, especially in the semifinal game to get a big lead like that and just put everyone on the team at ease. You change your gameplan and the score makes the other team also change their gameplan."

In the state title game against Lester Prairie, holding a 4-0 lead thanks to Mike Nachreiner's two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning, Belseth said, "there was a feeling of jubilation to have that extra (two-run) lead. I think that when Cole went out on the mound, he appreciated that extra cushion. No one was going to touch Cole in that seventh inning."

He said that prior to the game, he told his seniors, "that they have had a tremendous season. I know that they have been frustrated because of the opportunities in football that did not come through for them. Their goal was to finish the game as a state champion.

"This was a great way to get the monkey off of our back from the last two years." he said. "We talked as a coaching staff that what a difference there is between a sophomore and a junior player and then a junior and a senior player. We have seen this group of kids grow so much over the last three years; they have become young men. They are all good young men. They are good students in the classroom and they have given our halls and school a feeling of accomplishment."

He said that he woke up Saturday morning knowing that the 2000 Sleepy Eye High School baseball team is now a part of history. "Forever in the book or whenever people talk it will be 'state baseball champs, 2000.'"

DEIBELE PITCHES TWO WINS: Cole Deibele, who pitched two wins in the state tournament, said that he "never thought that they would win the state title, but it is a dream come true.

"I thought that we would have a little more trouble with teams in the state, but we came out and played our best baseball."

He said that he was "a little nervous in the state title (game) early, but I settled down later on and started hitting my spots."

The senior pitcher commented that the win was a frustration-reliever for the past two years. "We knew that this was the year that we had to do it. It is great reward as seniors.

"I could not believe that we won the state title; it feels great to be called as state champs."

KLAVITER PITCHES WIN: Former Cathedral and University of Minnesota softball pitcher Steph Klaviter pitched a three-hitter for the Florida Wahoos in a 1-0 win as she was named the AT&T Wireless Pitcher of the Week.

Klaviter fanned six and did not issue a walk. Last year, Klaviter was the Women's Professional Softball League leader in ERA with an 0.85 mark.

TWO NAMED TO LION'S ALL-STAR GAME: Ryan Wellmann of New Ulm High School and Jim Eckstein of state champion Sleepy Eye have been selected to play for the South in the 2000 Lion's All-Star baseball games scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24, in Chaska.

STEINBACH IN COMMERCIAL: Terry Steinbach and the August Schell Brewing Company will be filming a commercial at Johnson Park on Tuesday, July 11.

ALL-JOURNAL BASEBALL NOMINATIONS: Area high school baseball coaches are asked to get their nominations in for the All-Journal Area baseball team as soon as possible.

Please include career and year stats and comments on each player. You can mail them in or fax them at (507) 359-7362.

WIELAND NAMED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE: Jeremy Wieland of New Ulm and St. Cloud State has accepted membership in The National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

The society recognizes students who excel academically. Wieland is a pitcher on the St. Cloud State baseball team and is also pitching for the New Ulm Brewers this summer.

ANDERSON GONE?: Ethan Anderson, an outstanding teacher and coach at New Ulm Junior High School, has applied for the vacant head baseball coaching position at Mankato West.

It would be hard to lose him, especially after Brad Keenan, another good young teacher and coach, signed to teach next year in Chaska. The recent failed referendum is a big reason for both looking elsewhere. Three years ago, New Ulm had two fine possible head coaches to replace Jim Senske. Now, there are none.

OLSON NAMED NAIA SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICAN TEAM: Emily (Crabtree) Olson, a 1996 graduate of New Ulm High School, was named to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Honorable Mention team and was also named to the NAIA Scholar All-American Team.

She had 707 career rebounds for Northwestern College, third on the school's all-time . She is fourth in career assists with 273 and steals with 185.

She was also given the Eagle Award, which is awarded annually to a senior in recognition of athletic and academic excellence and Christian leadership. She graduated summa cum laude with a BS/BA in Elementary Education and a minor in English Education.

Column by Jim Bastian, Journal sports writer