Top-seeded Kaiserhoff ready to go

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm Kaiserhoff opens Section 4B playoff action tonight when they host Victoria in the first game of the best-of-3 series, 8 p.m. at Johnson Park.

New Ulm is the top seed in the section while Victoria is seeded fourth. The other 4B matchup also begins tonight in Marshall when the Green Isle Irish tangle with the A's.

The winners of these two series will be guaranteed a berth in the Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament, beginning Aug. 17 in both Sleepy Eye and Fairfax.

The Class C tournament will commence on Saturday, Aug. 19 at both sites.

This season, New Ulm holds two wins over the Vics, a 13-2 win in the first game of the season here in New Ulm and an 8-2 triumph later in the season at Victoria.

"At Victoria, it was a 0-0 game going into the sixth inning before we pulled away," said Kaiserhoff manager Tom Steinbach. "This is a series that we are not looking past; the winner gets that berth in the state tournament. We are going to put our best lineup on the field tonight and start our top pitcher (lefthander Chris Rupert), and we are going out to win the game (tonight)"

But the Kaiserhoff will be without an established catcher for the playoffs. First, Terry Steinbach pulled a hamstring that will require surgery and he will obviously be out for the remainder of the season. Then on Sunday night, Tom Steinbach was informed by Lee Brandel, who had been the starting catcher in Terry's absence, that Brandel was going to play for Minot in the Northwoods League.

That means that Cory Ranweiler, who has worn many hats this season, will be the catcher for this important playoff series. Ranweiler has not caught this year.

"Cory can do a nice job for us," said Steinbach. "The only situation that we are worried about is with runners on second and third. Our pitchers are going to realize that they cannot throw a pitch in the dirt; they will have to make better pitches and keep the ball out of the ground."

Steinbach knows that his team is not looking past Victoria by any means.

He added that Jared Visker, who has been troubled with some arm problems this season, may be available to pitch in certain situations.

Also, Brian Raabe will also play tonight as well as Friday in Victoria.

Steinbach will send this lineup on the field tonight at Johnson Park -- Ryan Ellwein, SS; Raabe, 2B; Brad Keenan, 3B; Brady Ranweiler, 1B; Tom Steinbach, RF; Landon Rathmann, LF; Tony Hanten, DH; Cory Ranweiler, C; Josh Hinson, CF.

The winner of this series will take on the winner of the Marshall-Green Isle series for the 4B crown and the right to pick first in the all-important draft for the state tournament.

Column by Jim Bastian, Journal sports writer