Breaks help

Legion Blue

By RYAN GALVIN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Never ... say ... die.

The New Ulm Legion Blue used a few breaks late in the game to come back and defeat Blue Earth Legion 4-3 at Mueller Park Monday night.

New Ulm was down 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh when things started to turn their way.

Brandon Rolloff started the inning with what appeared to be a routine flyball. Blue Earth's left fielder lost the ball in the lights and Rolloff hustled to second base. The same thing happened only seconds later when Travis Boddy skyed the ball into right field. This time the right fielder lost the ball and Rolloff galloped home to cut the Blue Earth lead to 3-2.

Next, New Ulm turned to fundamental baseball and Blue Earth wasn't able to counter with defense. Jacob Mertz laid down a bunt to advance pinch runner Matt Suess. Blue Earth's pitcher, Lee Hodges decided to throw to third, but his throw sailed into left field, scoring Suess to tie the game and sending Mertz to second.

Isaac Forstner was sent to the plate to advance Mertz to third, but a little more happened. Hodges fielded the bunt cleanly but threw the ball over the first baseman's head and Mertz scurried home for the game-winning run.

Before all the crazy plays in the bottom of the seventh happened, New Ulm received some fine pitching from Joey Penkert. Penkert conceded three earned runs on five hits and one walk in a complete-game effort.

"I just threw strikes and let them (his defense) make the plays," commented Penkert. It was a good decision as New Ulm committed only one error and played solidly in the field.

Three of Blue Earth's five hits came in the top of the seventh when they scored all of their runs. The big hit came when Jay Fredrickson blooped a triple down the right-field line with two out and two men on base.

Rolloff gave a diving effort, but came up short and the ball rolled by and two runs scored. Andrew Hartman cranked the next pitch to the wall for a RBI double to expand Blue Earth's margin to 3-1.

New Ulm put pressure on Blue Earth to score in the top of the seventh when they scored the first run of the game in the sixth inning. Blue Earth's Hodges had been cruising up to that point. He had only given up a hit and a walk in the first five innings.

Tyler Janni started the rally with a one-out walk. Suess courtesy ran for him and stole second. He advanced to third on a balk and first-year coach Paul Buboltz called for the suicide squeeze. Jeff Dolan put down the perfect bunt and drove in Suess.

"The squeeze worked perfectly -- fundamental baseball," Buboltz said after the game.

Hodges went the distance for Blue Earth. He gave up two earned runs on four hits and struck out seven.

Curt VanKley had the only hits for Blue Earth before the seventh. He singled in the second and fifth innings. He later walked in the seventh.

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