Young Kaiserhoff team is a success

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- If ESPN"s Dick Vitale were announcing baseball instead of basketball, he may well refer to the 2004 New Ulm Kaiserhoff baseball team as "Diaper Dandies."

Consider this. In the world of Class "B" baseball, the average age of players on the Kaiserhoff is 20.5.

That youth had first-year manager Dick Wellmann concerned. "I was a little hesitant about managing the team," Wellmann said. "But the more I thought about it with the youth and the change-over from a veteran team to a very young team, it was probably a good time as any to manage because basically I have seen most of these kids play high school and legion baseball here in New Ulm. My way of looking at it was I wanted to hopefully try and get something started because there is enough talent here that if they all stick together they could have themselves a pretty strong ballclub in two or three years."

Brady Ranweiler, the veteran on the team at age 27, was also concerned about the youth of this team. "I only minimumly seen this core of kids play a few games in high school and legion baseball -- they seemed to play well at that competition level. Now a lot of them take at least one year here in college and you come back and play amateur baseball here. Ususally the level of pitching competion steps up -- I was a little leary of how many could make the transistion right away and for us to be competitive in the section."

Ranweiler's concern for that now changed drastically.

"On any given day Dick Wellmann has the opportunity to interchange players at several different positions," Ranwiler said. "Just in the infield he has a lot of solid options and he does not hurt himself of the team with the changes. Everyone who has played has contributed."

One game that Ranweier points to is the Kaisehoff's opening game against Class "C" power Green Isle, who had already played 13 games when the Kaierhoff opened their season at Green Isle and came away with a 1-0 win.

"Pete Meier (one year out of legion baseball) got the game-winning RBI off an established pitcher in Matt Zachow," Ranweiler said. "If a player is struggling, he can plug in another young player and does not use to much."

Ryan Wellmann also pitched a shutout in that win. Since then, the Kaiserhoff has posted a 5-3 record -- a record that could very easily be 9-1 with a very young team.

"We were only out of one game (an 18-8 loss to Apple Valley) where we got it handed to us," Wellmann said.

"I got some looks when I was not concerned when some of the veterans left the team. I just made up my mind when I took the job that I was going to go young. I was hoping that the young players were willing to listen -- want to come to the game and not bicker because of playing time. I have been very impressed with them."

Wellmann said that perhaps the biggest win thus far this year came in the first game with that 1-0 win over Green Isle.

"Number one, Ryan (Wellmann) came back and we played excellent defense. Green Isle was 13-0 when we played them and we did not have an error."

Ranweiler, being the veteran, has seen his role change along with ypunger brother Cory (25-years old). "Dick, Cory and I talked a little bit at the start of the year. Dick wanted us to step up when we saw fit to get on the fact tha this team will always hustle.

"I don't want to see for sure that this team has all the makings of one of our better Kaiserhoff teams in years," Brady Ranweiler said.

Wellmann said that he enjoys managing his young team. "I am having a good time with this -- I enjoy managing this young team but I don't know how they are going to put up with me the whole season. I get a little frustrated and warm under the collar sometimes. But they all show up each game -- I now have some kids who are still playing legion baseball this year have signed with us. They said that they want to be part of this."

Despite the youth, this team has shown maturity with some of the decisions made by Dick Welmann.

"Derik Johnson has been hitting the ball well and Dick had him doing some DHing and playing the field when Cory (Ranweiler) is pitching," Brady Ranweiler said.

"Dick likes to change it up a little, but to give another player a shot and he told Derik that he was going to keep you for when Cory goes into pitch. He never ended up using Cory at all that game. Derik never got in the game but he never said one angry word word. The young players want to win. They don't have that 'I want to play every game or I will pout attitude.'"

Wellmann said that this team may well have something special in store for them. "If they all stay together, there is enough talent there that when playoffs come this year that despite how young we are that we are a team that you would not want to face in the playoffs."

This year or in the future.

NEW ULM 13-YEAR OLD TEAM IN NATIONALS: Speaking of young teams, the New Ulm 13-year old baseball team has qualified for the National Baseball Tournament in Canton, Michigan from July 18-25th.

"We are looking for financial help to fund the trip for the kids," coach Mitch More said. "It is kind of late to get any sort of organized fund raiser going. We are going to be going to New Ulm businesses for donations to defray the cost. Cost is around $1,000 per player with 12 players going. We want to try and raise as much as we can and then divide it equally among the players.

If you are interested, you can call Mitch More either at 359-7128 (H) or 354-8586 (W).

The New Ulm 12-year olds have also qualified for a national tournament. The site is either in Des Moines, Kansas City, or Florida. They are also looking for funds. Todd Hoffmann coaches 12-year olds and can be reached at 354-4638 (H)

REEDY RESIGNS AT NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: Pat Reedy has resigned as girl's tennis coach at New Ulm High School. Look for Kristi Andersen to be named the new head girl's softball coach soon at NUHS. It will be interesting when the Eagles play St. James in softball as Andersen's step-father is Landis Froehling, the girl's softball coach at St. James High School