Errors help VFW Gold

past Maple Grove, 8-4

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- When you make the plays defensively, you usually end up winning ballgames.

New Ulm VFW Gold took advantage of five Maple Grove errors to score three unearned runs and down the Crimson 8-4 Thursday night in the Junior Upper Midwest Classic at Johnson Park.

Adam Prochniak got the win, going five innings and striking out two. He allowed four runs on two hits.

Brian Gustafson, the first of four pitchers used by Maple Grove, was tagged with the loss. He went two innings and gave up five runs.

Landon Rewitzer and Prochniak each had two hits for VFW Gold with Prochniak helping his own cause with two RBI.

Mike Schutz had two hits for the Crimson, who outhit New Ulm 8-7.

"We put the ball in play tonight, we hit it hard at times," said VFW Gold coach Bob Weier. "I was happy with the way that we moved runners over with bunts. We were able to capitalize on our execution. When we moved the runners into scoring position, we got that sacrifice fly or base hit.."

Or some Maple Grove errors that made New Ulm's comeback a little easier.

Maple Grove had taken a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Crimson catcher Jason Muro led off with a single to center and stole second -- made easier when no one covered second on the throw from catcher Adam Macho. Matt Shube followed with a grounder to shortstop Rewitzer, who attempted to get Muro going to third, but the throw sailed by third baseman Zach Barrett to put Crimson runners on second and third with none out following Shube' steal of second. Ground outs by John Pahl and Ryan Iskiera scored two runs.

"We gave up those (two) runs in the second inning -- we had an error," commented Weier. "But I thought that (Rewitzer) made the right play (on the ground ball). He just didn't execute properly. But we did not get down on ourselves."

New Ulm responded to that two-run inning by pushing five runs across in the bottom of the third as Gustafson ran into control problems and committed a costly error. Levi Stugelmeyer walked and Rewitzer was safe when Gustafson threw his bunt by the first baseman to put New Ulm runners on first and second.

The second walk of the inning loaded the bases for Prochniak who singled in two runs to tie the game. Josh Thorson's walk loaded the bases and ended Gustafson's night.

Reliever Brent Lien was greeted by an RBI ground out by Adam Neubauer. A wild pitch and an error gave New Ulm a 5-2 lead.

Mike Schutz's two-run double in the fourth cut the lead to 5-4, but VFW Gold responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Tony Mielke doubled and Prochniak singled. Thorson's single off Shube moved New Ulm ahead 6-4. A wild pitch and another Crimson error moved New Ulm on top 8-4.

"When you make the plays, especially at this level, you win," said Weier. "And when you don't, you lose."

MAPLE GROVE 020 200 0--4 7 5

NEW ULM VFW GOLD 005 300 x--8 8 2

WP: Prochniak. LP: Gustafson. 2B: Smith (MG), Schutz (MG), Mielke (NU).