Gold squeezes Sleepy Eye

By RYAN GALVIN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Great teams win close games. New Ulm Legion Gold has won the close games all season and they did it again Tuesday night as they defeated Sleepy Eye Legion 3-2 in eight innings at Mueller Park.

Craig Spelbrink started Legion Gold's wining rally in the bottom of the eighth inning with a line-drive shot to left-center field. After an intentional walk to Jace Marti, Bobby Wellmann laid down a solid bunt.

Unfortunately pitch runner, Dusty Wilfahrt slipped on his way to third base and was thrown out. A batter later, Andy Stolt blooped his third hit of the game to load the bases.

Gold, as they have all season, didn't let the golden opportunity slip away. Although this time, they got a little help.

After Sleepy Eye pitcher Chad Armbruster struck out Dan Kitzberger, Eric Austvold went to the plate with two out and the base loaded. Austvold walked to force home Jace Marti with the winning run.

Sleepy Eye forced the game into extra innings when they scored a run in the top of the seventh inning. Pitch hitter Dusty Mangen reached base on a one-out error by second baseman Spelbrink.

Bryce Belseth re-entered the game and, courtesy running for Mangen, advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Next, Sleepy Eye's Andy Konz had a clutch hit of his own when he singled in Belseth with two out.

But Sleepy Eye couldn't come through with another clutch hit as New Ulm starter, John Enter stranded two runners in scoring position in the inning.

"I just threw strikes and got a ground ball," Enter commented on the ground ball to shortstop Jamie Hoffmann to end the seventh inning.

Enter found trouble in the second inning as well, but was able to battle through most of it. Jake Deibele singled in Steve Eckstein for the lone run of the inning. But Enter escaped trouble and stranded three Sleepy Eye runners in the inning.

Enter went all eight innings to earn the win. He gave up two unearned runs on six hits and struck out three.

Sleepy Eye held onto the one-run lead until the fourth inning.

Travis Thorson reached on an error and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. After a Wellmann single, coach Dave Kunz called for the suicide squeeze. It was executed to perfection as Stolt laid down the bunt to score Thorson and tie the game at 1.

"We practiced it all year, I just laid it down," Stolt said.

Stolt came through with another clutch play in the sixth inning. With two out, he singled up the middle to score pitch-runner Marti and give Gold its first lead of the game.

"I saw the ball and made good contact," Stolt replied about his second of his three hits in the game.

Armbruster took the loss for Sleepy Eye, tossing a complete game. He conceded three runs on 10 hits and four walks while striking out five.

SLEEPY EYE 010 000 10 --2 6 1

NEW ULM 000 101 01 --3 10 4

W--Enter. L--Armbruster. HRs--None.