Blue bounces back with 12-1 victory

By RYAN GALVIN

Journal Sports Writer

FAIRMONT -- There are many differences between a winning team and a losing team. One of them is bouncing back from a loss. After a lack-luster loss to Blue Earth on Friday, New Ulm Legion Blue played solid baseball and trounced Worthington 12-1 in five innings to advance in the Second District American Legion Baseball Tournament.

It looked like a different team on the field Saturday as Blue played errorless baseball -- they had five on Friday -- hit the ball hard and turned a double play.

"We were more loose today. We came out with a lot more fire," head coach Paul Buboltz said.

That was true as Blue turned a double play on the second batter of the game. After a lead-off single by Worthington's Cole Johnson, Jake Scheidt grounded to third base. Kyle Helget fielded and threw to Isaac Forstner at second. Forstner quickly released and threw to first.

Blue brought the fire to the plate in the early innings as well. They scored two runs in the bottom half of the first. Dusty Fleck recorded the first hit with a two-out single. After a walk to Brandon Rolloff, Travis Boddy crushed a double to right-center field that scored both runners.

Blue was just warming up in the first because they really got things going in the second inning. Tyler Janni and Kyle Helget started the inning with singles. Two batters later, Corey Schnobrich's infield single loaded the bases. Next, Jeff Dolan grounded to third but the third baseman, Jake Scheidt threw low and the ball went past first base to score Janni and Helget. Schnobrich and Dolan both scored seconds later on Dusty Fleck's single to left field. After Rolloff reached on an error, Boddy ended starting pitcher Sean O'Brien's day with a two-RBI single.

O'Brien was charged with nine runs on seven hits in 1 1-3 innings in a losing effort. Scheidt went in relief and cooled Blue's bats somewhat as he gave up three more runs in the inning (one of those runs was charged to O'Brien).

Scheidt finished the game, giving up three runs. His only major mistake after the second inning was to Rolloff in the fourth. Rolloff spanked his 0-1 offering over the left-center fence to finish Blue's scoring for the day at 12 runs.

Blue's starting pitcher, Chris Cariveau tossed a stellar game and kept focused through Blue's long innings at the plate. Worthington's only run was in the fourth inning. Cariveau breezed through the first two batters but back-to-back singles put runners on the corners. Kyle Boever was on the third and alertly scored on a wild pitch for his team's lone run.

Cariveau finished his five inning performance, giving up six hits and striking out four.

Blue plays Lamberton today at 2:30 p.m.

WORTHINGTON 000 10 -- 1 6 2

NEW ULM 291 0x--12 13 0

Game called in fifth inning due to 10 run-rule

W--Cariveau L--O'Brien HR: Rolloff