Brewers win first in series

By JEREMY BEHNKE

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- After Friday's Tomahawk League playoff game between St. James and the New Ulm Brewers, Brewer pitcher Chris Peters said there was no gas left in the tank.

Peters pitched a complete game five-hitter as the Brewers downed the A's 3-1 in the first game of the best-of-three series at Mueller Park.

Game 2 is slated for 8 p.m. Sunday in Hanska due to a Legion Baseball tournament taking place in St. James.

"It's a good win for us to have," Peters said. "You always need one win to get going. We've been struggling lately, and it was a good thing to come out with a win."

St. James scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning after Al Brekke began the inning with a single and later scored to make it 1-0.

The Brewers managed to tie it in the third inning after Corey Schaefer walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Jamie Hoffmann's double to the gap in left-center scored Schaefer from second.

New Ulm took the lead in the bottom of the fourth after Troy Kamm reached on a fielder's choice. Scott O'Brien and Craig Spelbrink each followed with a single to load the bases. Kamm scored on a passed ball to put the Brewers up 2-1.

The A's threatened in the fifth after Brandon Olson and Colby Kaus walked with two outs. However, Peters got Derek Lanoue to fly out to right to end the threat.

In the sixth, the Brewers scored after O'Brien led off with a walk from Lanoue. He moved to second on Spelbrink's sacrifice bunt and went to third on Schaefer's single. He scored on Travis Thorson's two-out single to make it 3-1.

"We've been struggling hitting and tonight we didn't execute a lot either," Peters said. "We left a lot of baserunners on, but we had some key hits that got us our three runs that won the game for us."

New Ulm caught a huge break in the seventh after St. James began the inning with a double by Randy Helget. Next, Brandon Olson hit a fly ball to right. O'Brien lost the ball in the lights and Helget held up at third. Helget, who didn't see Olson standing on the bag, broke towards third, forcing Helget to run home on the throw.

Helget was caught in a rundown as Olson stood at third and the baserunning gaffe cost St. James a run and an out.

Peters retired the next two hitters to end the inning.

"That was big for us and I guess it helped us out and gave us the momentum of the game," Peters said.

Peters struck out seven. Lanoue struck out four and allowed 11 hits. New Ulm (17-6) stranded seven and St. James stranded nine.

Jamie Hoffmann went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Craig Spelbrink went 2-for-4. Al Brekke went 2-for-4 for St. James.