Gold tops Blue 8-1

Face Sleepy Eye today for Legion championship

By RYAN GALVIN

Journal Sports Writer

FAIRMONT -- It was a matchup with all the elements. New Ulm against New Ulm, winner goes to the state tournament, loser goes home.

Unfortunately, not all sporting events live up to their hype. That was the case as Legion Gold took the suspense out of an 8-1 win over Legion Blue Friday evening in Second District Division One baseball.

Top seeded Gold did exactly what they didn't do last weekend when they struggled to two wins and a loss. They got off to the quick start.

Andy Stolt, the winning pitcher, used six pitches in his perfect first inning.

Gold didn't waste anytime getting the bats started either and used Blue's sloppy play to their advantage.

Blue coach Paul Buboltz admitted, "We came out cold."

The first two batters for Gold, Eric Austvold and Brandon Reinarts, both singled off Jacob Mertz. The next batter, Joey Schugel tried to bunt but got hit in the leg instead to load the bases. After Travis Thorson forced in the first run of the game with a walk, Jamie Hoffmann grounded to a drawn in Isaac Forstner at second base. Forstner bobbled the ball, then threw wildly past first base to let in two runs. Robby Geistfeld's deep fly ball to center field drove in Thorson for the final run of the inning.

Blue battled and cut into the lead with a run in the third. Forstner reached base on an error and advanced to second on a single by Matt Suess. Jeff Dolan bunted the runners over and Dusty Fleck grounded to third. On the play, Forstner charged home and Thorson --the third baseman-- threw home. His throw bounced in front of the plate and Forstner scored. Suess also ran for home when he saw the ball travel down the line but was thrown out.

Blue would have many more chances in the game as they left eight runners on base.

"We were on the verge of having big innings almost every inning but we couldn't get the big hit at the right time," Buboltz said.

Stolt deserves credit for leaving runners stranded. 'I got tough," he commented about leaving two runners on base in three innings (second, fourth and fifth).

Stolt finished his complete game, gutty performance giving up seven hits and striking out five.

Mertz wasn't able to battle through trouble, however, as Gold added runs in the third and fourth innings.

Gold scored in the third when Stolt singled in Hoffmann with two outs. Gold really got to Mertz in the fourth to end his day.

Reinarts, the second batter of the inning, hit a line drive double to score Austvold. That was last batter Mertz faced as he allowed seven runs on seven hits in three-plus innings.

Chris Cariveau went in and retired the next batter but ran into trouble on the next two batters. Thorson and Hoffmann singled with Hoffmann driving in Reinarts. Geistfeld drove in the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Cariveau was charged with one run on four hits in three innings.

The loss ended Blue's season with a 12-6 record and a very proud coach.

"I am very proud of these guys. We were only on game away from state," Buboltz said.

Gold's season continues today and next week in the state tournament.

"We are in state but we want to win the district," Gold's coach Dave Kunz says. To do that Gold must beat Sleepy Eye twice. The first game is 1 p.m. at Fairmont and the second game will follow if neccesary.

BLUE 001 000 0--1 7 2

GOLD 401 300 x--8 11 3

W--Stolt L--Mertz