Brewers win 5-3

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Maybe it was a case of the division-leading New Ulm Brewers playing down to the winless Searles Grizzlies.

Or perhaps it was a case of the 0-10 Grizzlies playing up to the 9-1 Brewers.

Whatever the case was, the Brewers plated two runs in both the first and fifth innings to come away with a close 5-2 win over Searles Wednesday night in Tomahawk East League play.

Chris Peters picked up the win for New Ulm going seven innings and allowing two runs on six hits while fanning four. Jared Visker and Tyson Anderson each pitched an inning.

Jeremy Soukup took the loss for Searles. He went six innings and permitted five runs on 10 hits. Mark Boettger tossed the final two innings.

Scott Schaefer led New Ulm's 10-hit attack with three hits. Corey Schaefer added two hits.

Mike Potner led the Grizzlies with two hits. Pat Portner and Frank Forstner each doubled for Searles.

The Grizzlies, who play at Springfield on Friday night at 8 p.m., mounted a mild threat against New Ulm starter Chris Peters in the first inning. Mike Portner singled and went to second on a passed ball. Dave Hatle followed with a groundball to Brewer shortstop Jamie Hoffmann who threw to third to nail Portner. Frank Forstner then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Travis Thorson'e lead-off single in the bottom of the inning ignited a two-run tally.

Hoffmann walked before all hands were safe when Searles firstbaseman Mike Grossman's throw to third on a Scott Schaefer groundball was low and escaped Nick Forstner to load the bases.

Chris Peters walked forced in Thorson with a Tony Burt groundout scoring Hoffmann.

The Grizzlies cut the lead to 2-1 in the third inning. Dan Berg and Mike Portner both singled with one out. A fielder's choice moved Berg to third where a two-out Frank Forstner singled scored him.

But in the fifth inning, the Brewers, who will host Essig at 7:30 Saturday night, pieced four htis together for two runs.

Scott Schaefer led off with a single and went to second on a Troy Kamm bunt single. Tony Burt reached on a throwing error by Soukup on a comebacker to load the bases. RBI singles by Corey Schaefer and Craig Spelbrink scored two runs.

The Brewers added an insurance run in the sixth when Ryan Walters, playing his last game before season-ending arm surgery on Friday, singled. Travis Thorson's sacrifice bunt moved him to second where he scored on Scott Schaefer's two-out single.

The Grizzlies plated single runs in both the seventh and ninth innings. In the seventh, Nick Forstner doubled and Steve Kloeckl singled. Forstner scored on a double play.

In the ninth, Pat Portner doubled and scored one out later on a Brewer error.

SEARLES 001-000-101=3-7-3

BREWERS 200-021-00X=5-10-3

WP: Peters. LP: Soukup. 2B: Forstner (S), P.Portner (S).