2003 All-Journal Baseball Team
Wellmann and Wilfahrt: Pair of aces

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- The game of pitching, whether it involves high school, college or professional, is the name of the game.

This season, two pitchers in the area stand out over everyone else.

That is why Dusty Wilfahrt of New Ulm Cathedral and New Ulm High School's Bob Wellmann are the 2003 New Ulm All-Journal Baseball Co-Players of the Year.

Both Wilfahrt and Wellmann are senior right-handers.

Wilfahrt was the ace for the Greyhounds' pitching staff and Wellmann was the ace for the Eagles.'

And the similarities do not end there.

This year Wilfahrt posted a 9-0 pitching record. Wellmann went 9-1. They both pitched 59 innings this season with Wilfahrt recording 110 strikeouts and Wellmann fanning 51.

Wellmann, who is still leaning towards signing with Minnesota State-Mankato, allowed 26 hits while walking 18. His ERA was a strong 1.07.

Meanwhile Wilfahrt, who is looking at St. John's, UMD and Bethany Lutheran as his college choices, permitted 13 hits and five runs while dangling a miniscule 0.47 ERA.

His coach, Bob Weier, saw that the success that Wilfahrt was going to have began in his sophomore season at Cathedral.

"He took a keen interest in pitching," Weier said about Wilfahrt, who plays shortstop when not on the mound. "He improved -- he made huge strides between his junior and senior season. He had confidence -- he wanted to pitch, to do well and he wanted that challenge. He wanted the ball in the big games. Essentially, he was a great competitor."

Wilfahrt finished this season with two no-hitters, three one-hitters and a two-hitter. For his career, he recorded three no-nos, three one-hitters and two, two-hitters.

"He would have had a no-hitter against Nicollet (this season) had I not taken him out," Weier said. "We were ahead 13-0."

"He is at the top of the list of pitchers that I have coached at Cathedral," said Weier. In his career with the Greyhounds, Wilfahrt posted a 24-4 record. In 160 innings, he struck out 199 and had an ERA of 1.69. "We have had a lot of good pitchers at Cathedral but not the caliber that he is. He has a very live arm -- his ball popped out of it."

Weier said that Wilfahrt was "mentally tough. If there was a jam that he was in, he believed that he could get every hitter out. He had a tremendous amount of confidence in his ability."

Wilfahrt said that this season, "I learned how to throw different speeds on my curveball, and I had better control. You learn that as a pitcher, you cannot strike everyone out -- you need to let your defense help you out."

Both Weier and Wilfahrt agree that his top game this season, out of many strong games, was against Sleepy Eye Public in the playoffs.

"We were in the second round of playoffs," Weier said. "He threw a one-hitter at Sleepy Eye Public who has a very good hitting ballclub. He wanted that ballgame -- he pitched against them last year and threw a good game until the fifth or sixth inning, but then he gave up some hits. He talked about that game for quite a while, and he wanted to face them again."

As a shortstop, Wilfahrt hit .282 this year. had an on-base percentage of .502 and stole 22 bases.

The Eagles' Wellmann is an intense player -- a competitor who, according to his high school coach Jim Senske, "wants the ball in the big game every time."

Wellmann describes himself as "an energetic player that likes to battle."

Last year Wellmann was shelved with a sore arm late in the season. Still, Wellmann came back and ended up with a career record of 28-5 over three years.

"I think that as I matured, I was a smarter pitcher -- I did not try to strike everyone out," he said. "I tried to get the outs whenever I could. I learned to hit my spots more consistently then I did earlier."

Wellmann, who pitched in the 2003 Lion's All-Star game and is a member of the Western Minny League All-Star team, said that "making the hitters hit [his] pitch" was a key to his success. "You throw that outside change-up and let the batters hit it in the ground, pretty much."

He said, "I have always wanted the ball in the big games -- I didn't care who we were playing, I wanted the ball every game."

But he said being intense "is something that you need to control. If things are not going well, you have to tone it back a little bit."

His dominance as a pitcher shined in a game at home against Waseca when he struck out 12 batters. A Waseca radio announcer said that Wellmann's performance was the most dominant pitching performance that he has ever seen.

"I had good pop on my fastball and my curve worked well," Wellmann said.

He added that playing for coach Jim Senske "was one of the main reasons that I have had my success. He expects the best out of you every time you go out there."

Here are the remaining members of the 2003 All-Journal Area Baseball Team.

ERIC AUSTVOLD, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: The best center fielder in the area, Austvold hit .437 this season. He scored 28 runs, drove in 26 runs and belted a team-high five home runs. In 71 at-bats, he struck out just twice. He was a two-year All-State selection and an All South Central Conference pick. Coach Jim Senske described him as a "quiet leader."

KYLE MARTI, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: Marti began the season at first base but when catcher Blake Thorson tore his ACL in the last regular season game of the year, Marti moved behind the plate. He hit .394 and was an All-South Central Conference pick. He had four home runs and scored 23 runs while driving in 23 runs.

PETE MEIER, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: Meier had the tough job of replacing Jamie Hoffmann at shortstop this season for the Eagles and did well. Coach Senske said that Meier "was quick on the double play and had a strong arm."

KEITH MCCLELLAN, NEW ULM HIGH SCHOOL: McClellan was "an excellent leadoff hitter and a solid baserunner," Senske said. "He loves the game of baseball."

ADAM PROCHNIAK, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL: His coach, Bob Weier, said that Adam "was a very consistent performer his senior season." A catcher, Prochniak hit .393 with 28 RBI. He hit safely in 21 of his team's 26 games and had nine multiple-hit games. He was named to the Tomahawk All-Conference team.

SCOTT KNISLEY, NEW ULM CATHEDRAL: Knisley enjoyed a very productive sophomore year, leading Cathedral with three home runs. He was also named to the Tomahawk All-Conference team.

MARK ROLLOFF, MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN: Rolloff hit .400 and had 17 RBI for the Chargers.

TYLER MORGAN, MINNESOTA VALLEY LUTHERAN: A catcher, Morgan also hit .400 and lead the team with 22 hits and six doubles. He had a slugging percentage of .509.

ANDY COOK, SLEEPY EYE ST. MARY'S: Cook hit .402 this season and had a career batting average of .442.

"Andy had a great career -- he played in two state tournaments and two sectional championships," coach Bruce Woitas said. "He helped us win one state title and finish third in another." Cook also played in the Lion's All-Star game. "He will be missed a lot next year," Woitas said.

MATT MATHIOWETZ, SLEEPY EYE ST. MARY'S: Mathiowetz hit .380 as a junior this year and was 6-1 as a pitcher. He helped St. Mary's fill a hole in their pitching staff. Mathiowetz was named All-Tomahawk Conference this year and will be a "team leader next year," Woitas said.

TIM BRAULICK, SLEEPY EYE ST. MARY'S: Braulick hit .393 his senior season and filled a big hole at first base, according to coach Bruce Woitas. He had 23 RBIs.

BRETT BRAULICK, SLEEPY EYE ST. MARY'S: Brett Braulick posted an 8-2 season mark as a pitcher with a 1.96 ERA and 57 strikeouts.

"He was the anchor of our pitching staff and was an All-Conference and All-Section team selection," Woitas said.

JAMES PANNING,GFW: Panning hit .419 with a slugging percentage of .645. He led the Thunderbirds with 26 hits and was second in RBI with 14. As a pitcher, he was 2-2.

JON DEROCK, GFW: DeRock pummeled the ball with a .459 batting average, leading the Thunderbirds with six home runs and 22 RBIs.

JOSE SAENZ, SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC: Saenz won 14 games in his two-year career and had 96 strikeouts.

NICK WINDSCHITL, SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC: Windschitl had 52 hits in his career with 49 RBI and 11 home runs.

TYLER JENSEN, SLEEPY EYE PUBLIC: Jensen, a junior, was 5-1 as a pitcher with a 2.40 ERA. He also hit .368.

RYAN HANSCH, MCLEOD WEST: Hansch led the Falcons with a .407 batting average. He had two home runs, two triples and 17 RBIs. In the classroom, he posted an A average.

AJ LUCKHARDT, SPRINGFIELD: Luckhardt ended with a .414 batting average. He had 29 hits and scored 27 runs. He was a unanimous All-Tomahawk Conference choice.

MATT TEWS, SPRINGFIELD: This junior led the Tigers with a robust .429 batting average. He was 7-of-8 in stolen base attempts and was named to the All-Tomahawk Conference team.