Hoffmann hitting the ball hard in minors

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm's Jamie Hoffman is making noise in his first full season of professional baseball.

Hoffmann, who is playing third base for the Gulf Coast Dodgers. In 49 at-bats Hoffmann has 21 hits for a .429 batting average. He has four doubles and two triples along with 10 RBI for his team which is 7-4.

Hoffmann has a slugging percentage of .592 and an on-base percentage of .451. He also has two stolen bases and has struck out just four times.

UPPER MIDWEST RESUMES TODAY: Mother Nature threw the 25th Annual Upper Midwest Classic a curveball yesterday with the weather. But it will resume today with all of Saturday's games being pushed back to today with the championships set for Monday.

Right now Sioux Falls West is tops in the "A" pool with a record of 2-0. They have outscored opponents 27-3. New Ulm Gold (nine runs scored, 17 allowed), Duluth (9 and 20), Omaha (10 and 9), and Rochester (8 and 7) are all 1-1 with Sleepy Eye (7 and 14) 0-2.

In the "B" pool, two teams -- Mankato and Creighton Prep are 2-0. Mankato has dominated their opponents by a 27-0 margin while Creighton Prep has a 17-3 advantage.

Both New Ulm Blue and Burnsville are 1-1. Blue has been outscored 17-7 while Burnsville holds a 21-10 advantage over their opponents. Sioux Falls East and Saulte Ste. Marie are both 0-2. Sioux Falls East has been outscored 35-4 while Saulte Ste. Marie has been outscored 18-7.

The big games today will be Mankato against Creighton Prep at 10:30 at Mueller Park in a battle of the leaders in Pool "B". Other key battles are in Pool "A" where Omaha and New Ulm Gold play at 1:30 at Johnson Park along with Sioux Falls West meeting Rochester in a 7 p.m. contest at Mueller Park.

In Sleepy Eye, Post 7 can make some noise when they play the hard-hitting team from Sioux Falls West at 1:30.

Mankato's Marcus Duenes may hold some sort of Upper Midwest Classic record with a grand slam home run and a three run homer in a 16-0 win over Sioux Falls East. He also added a double and drove in eight runs in the game.

GOOD FOOD AT PARK: One of the best parts of the Upper Midwest Classic is the food provided by the American Legion Auxiliary that includes sauerkraut, landjaegers and german potato salad. Many of the out-of-state people look forward to coming here not only because of the great tournament, but also the fine food provided.

Head down to Johnson Park today and have some of that fine food and watch some great baseball.