Gold stays unbeaten

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Jamie Hoffmann went 3-for-3 with a double, a triple, two RBI and three runs scored as New Ulm Legion Gold improved to 4-0 in the season by toppling Eagle Lake 7-4 Monday night in South Central Legion action.

Dusty Wilfahrt picked up the mound victory for Gold going four innings. He allowed three runs on three hits while striking out six. Chris Cariveau pitched the fifth inning with Hoffmann going the final two.

Mark Tindall was tagged with the loss for Eagle Lake permitting all seven runs in five innings of work.

Hoffmann's 3-for-3 performance was aided by a two-hit game from Jace Marti with Eric Austvold driving in three runs.

Mark Norland doubled for Eagle Lake.

Despite the win, Gold coach Dave Kunz was a little concerned about the win.

"It was a lazy game - we had a lot of mental errors in the outfield," he said. "We only had two errors on the board but we made a lot of mistakes in the outfield. And also we did not do some ot the right things at hitting - we scored five runs in the first two innings and kind of sat on that lead."

But those five runs would be all that Gold, who will play a doubleheader in Marshall tonight at 6 p.m.., would need.

New Ulm would plate two runs in the first inning after two were out.

Jamie Hoffmann would reach second base without the aid of a hit when he coaxed a walk - one of five issued by Tindahl in the game -and went to second on a wild pitch.

He scored on a throwing error by Eagle Lake shortstop Mark Norland on an Eric Austvold groundball.

A Dusty Fleck single to right chased Austvold to third before an infield single by Kyle Helget scored Austvold.

After Wilfahrt struck out the side in the top of the second, Gold would tack on three more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Jacob Mertz walked and Jace Marti singled to right, moving Mertz to third. Both runners scored on Hoffmann's triple off of the fence in leftfield before a passed ball brought in Hoffmann for a 5-0 lead.

Eagle Lake would use three walks by Wilfahrt to plate three runs in the third.

A fielder's choice and free passes to Cole Nelson and Norland loaded the bases before a single by Justin Danberry and an error pushed two runs across.A passed ball added another run.

"He (Wilfahrt) lost a little of his control in that inning," commented Kunz. "He had three walks in that inning and walks will always hurt you. The thee runs that they scored, two of them walked."

Gold would add two more runs in the fourth inning when Jace Marti collected his second hit of the game, leading off the inning with a single.A Hoffmann double to center moved Marti to third. He would score on a wild pitch with Hoffmann coming home on an Austvold groundout.

"Jamie is our spark -- that is why I have him hitting third," said Kunz. "We have some good hitters in front and behind him. We like it when he comes up with men on base."

Eagle Lake scored a run in the sixth off of Hoffmann on a walk and two singles.

"Chris (Cariveau) wanted an inning -- he will pitch (tonight) against Marshall. He wanted to stay sharp and I just wanted to get Jamie throwing some."

"It will take a little while to get (18 players) into the flow -- they are all talented," Kunz said."Once we get out of town, that will take care of itself. We play at Marshall and then we go to our tournament in Winnipeg, Canada. It usually takes until that first road tournament until the guys start meshing a little bit."

EAGLE LAKE 003-001-0=4-6-2

NEW ULM GOLD 230-20-X=7-7-2

EAGLE LAKE: Mark Tindall, John Ries (6) and Brandon Polzin. NEW ULM GOLD: Dusty Wilfahrt, Chris Cariveau (5) , Jamie Hoffman (6) and Blake Thorson, Kyle Marti (7). 2B: Norland (EL), Hoffmann(NU)., 3B: Hoffmann (NU).