Gold's success reflected in the numbers

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

DULUTH -- New Ulm Legion Gold's success at the Minnesota State Division I Legion Baseball Tournament was reflected in the numbers.

Five New Ulm players hit better than .300 during the tournament, which was played at sites in Duluth, Hermantown and Proctor. Three players hit better than .400, and Ryan Walters went 10-for-19 (.526) with seven runs scored and three RBI.

Walters' performance impressed Moorhead coach James Hurley, among others. Hurley got a chance to see Walters play twice -- both Moorhead wins and the only losses suffered by Gold at the tournament.

"From what I've seen, he's the No. 1 player in this tournament," Hurley said. "We were very fortunate because he's a big-time player."

Walters had Hurley and the Blues plenty worried when the pitcher/outfielder came up for the final time early Saturday evening. Up 11-3 to start the top of the seven inning, Moorhead had committed three errors to allow New Ulm to score five runs.

Walters came up for the second time in the inning with two out and hammered a drive right at Blues center fielder Dave Kath.

"Ryan Walters came up with two guys on and down three runs," Hurley said, "and I said, 'This gent now is walking up here with the potential of tying this ballgame and you're going to be in a deep state of shock.' And thank God he hit the rocket shot to center rather than left or left-center, or we would've had a tie ballgame.

"Eight, 10 feet either way and it could have been a different ballgame, too, without a doubt. It's a game of inches and we were on the lucky side this time."

The two other New Ulm players to hit better than .400 in the tournament also played a part in Gold's five-run seventh Saturday evening. Scott O'Brien and John Enter registered run-scoring singles.

O'Brien -- Gold's lead-off hitter -- went 9-for-22 (.409) with a double, four RBI and four runs scored in the six games. The left-handed hitting Enter, batting in the No. 2 slot, was 9-for-21 (.429) with a double, five runs scored and four RBI.

Right fielder Isaac Larson hit .375 for Gold with a double, six RBI and four runs scored. Shortstop Joey Schugel finished the tournament at an even .300 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Offense wasn't the only area where Gold players had success. Both Walters and Andy Stolt had good tournaments on the mound.

The right-handed Walters pitched one of the best games of the tournament -- a complete-game one-hitter in a 7-0 Gold win over Willmar Saturday afternoon. Walters faced only two batters more than the minimum.

For the tournament, Walters worked 11 2-3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. He struck out 12 and walked four.

Stolt, another right-hander, pitched a complete-game win in New Ulm's 2-1 eight-inning victory over Maple Grove Friday. Stolt yielded one run on five hits and struck out six, and for the tournament allowed only one run on eight hits in 10 1-3 innings.

New Ulm, which went 4-2 in the tournament, may have been something of a surprise success at the tournament. Midway through the season, Gold was under .500 before winning eight straight games and advancing to the tournament with a win over Blue Earth in the District 2 final in Jackson.

"Halfway through the year, (the state tournament) looked like it could very well not be a possibility," New Ulm coach Dave Kunz said. "But they started getting it. They started playing better, and they started coming together.

"Now that we're out, there's a little bit of disappointment, but I wouldn't trade the season for any other one. I wouldn't trade it one bit for anything."

Sunday afternoon, defending national champion Tri-City Red of New Brighton edged Waite Park 1-0 in eight innings at Wade Stadium to repeat as state champions. In the first game Sunday afternoon, Waite Park eliminated Moorhead 7-3.

Tri-City Red and Waite Park will both advance to regional tournaments, which begin Thursday. Tri-City Red will play in Rapid City, S.D., and Waite Park will compete in Fairview Heights, Ill.