Klaviter, Paa shine

NEW ULM -- Two outstanding young women from New Ulm, Steph Klaviter and Amanda Paa, are doing quite well recently in their respective sports -- softball and golf.

Klaviter made Women's Professional Softball League history recently when she became the eighth pitcher to throw a no-hitter as her team, the Florida Wahoos, beat the Ohio Pride, 3-0.

Klaviter did not allow a runner past first base until the seventh inning when a Pride runner reached on an error and stole second. Klaviter fanned four and did not walk a batter a she improved her record to 3-1.

Currently, Klaviter is 4-1 win an ERA of an amazing 0.23. In 31 innings, she has 21 strikeouts and walked only three. The former New Ulm Cathedral and University of Minnesota standout has given up only 10 hits. Of her four wins, all are shutouts.

Klaviter, who was the WPSL Pitcher of the Week for June 13, has allowed only one earned run as opponents are hitting a lackluster .095 against her.

Meanwhile Paa. 16, played in the 15-17 year old National PGA Junior Series played at Yahara Hills Golf Course in Madison, Wisc., and tied for fourth by shooting a two-day total of 164 (82-82).

Last Thursday, Paa finished fifth in the United States Golf Association Junior National Qualifying Tournament held at Minnesota Valley Country Club held in Bloomington.

The section was comprised of golfers from Minnesota, North and South Dakota along with Iowa.

Paa shot an 89 on the 6,210-yard course.

WALDEN FINISHES 11TH: Darlene Walden of New Ulm finished 11th in the Women's International Bowling Congress Senior Championship Tournament held in Reno, Nev., recently.

Walden fired a six-game total of 1,180 which was good for fifth place and only 26 pins shy of the top score of 1,206.

Walden qualified for the National Tournament by winning the Minnesota State Senior Tournament with a six-game total of 1,280.

JUNIOR CLASSIC BRINGS IN GOOD PLAYERS: The recently-completed Junior Upper Midwest Baseball Classic held in New Ulm and Sleepy Eye brought some good performances from some very good young players.

Unfortunately, because some games played out of New Ulm were not recorded, complete tournament highlights are incomplete.

But here are several performances that I saw that impressed me.

Ryan Kessinger of Sioux Falls won the home run title with two -- one against New Ulm VFW Gold and the other coming in the title game against St. Cloud.

Matt Wiederich, also of the Roadrunners, went 2-0 and fanned 18 hitters.

Kessinger also unofficially (because of incomplete records) won the RBI title with eight.

Matt Nachreiner of New Ulm VFW Gold also stood out with his bat and his arm. He fanned 13 in one game. If you watch his swing from the left side, there are few that have nicer one than Matt.

UPPER MIDWEST PREVIEW: In Thursday's Journal there will be a preview of the upcoming Upper Midwest Classic this weekend. Look for it then.

NIGHTS AT JOHNSON PARK: Tonight and Wednesday will be some special nights at Johnson Park.

Tonight, the Brewers host Winthrop in an 8 p.m. Tomahawk East League game and it will be "Kid's Night" with two youngsters selected to race around the bases in the middle of the fifth inning. Prizes are provided by the August Schell Brewing Company and Ted Marti.

Wednesday night, the Kaiserhoff hosts Milroy and it will be "Happy Joe's Night" with certificates for delicious meals from Happy Joe's given away. Also, in the middle of the fifth inning, there will be a one-minute Pizza Eating Contest between two fans.

Column by Jim Bastian, Journal sports writer