Softball teams head to nationals

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- This week, two New Ulm girls fastpitch softball teams will make history and they both will play in national tournaments in Texas.

The Blue Devils 18-and-under squad coached by Brian Schuck and the Kelly Green 14-and-under squad coached by Gary Janni left for Texas earlier this week to participate in the prestigious national tournament.

"We are 19-18 right now," said Schuck who said that three years ago another New Ulm team, Legion Seniors, also qualified for the national showcase. "Rick Miller took a real talented squad to Illinois."

Schuck readily admits that his team, "is not the most immensely talented team that I have coached. I have been coaching for nine years. But they play together; they get the job done and nobody cares who gets the job done. They don't care who gets the big hit or who scores the runs."

Schuck said that this season, tournaments have been his team specialties. They were runner-up in the New Ulm Tournament, placed third in the Mankato Tournament, second in the Owatonna Tournament and fifth place in the state tournament.

"We also play in a real difficult league," said Schuck. "We were the third team out of eight teams that qualified for the national tournament."

Schuck's team will play their B tournament in McAllen, Texas beginning today and running through Sunday in the double elimination format.

There, he will hope that the things that got New Ulm there will be stressed. "I am a big believer in fundamentals. It is not the home run that wins you games, it is making the routine plays that brings home the wins."

One of the concerns that Schuck had when his team qualified for the nationals was keeping the girls in focus and not in awe of where they are going.

"I made some phone calls to two people from New Ulm who had been to nationals before and to Jerry Maschka (Peppers coach) from Mankato. They all gave me tips, but the one thing that they told me is to tell the girls that they can go down there and win some games. We stressed that with the girls. We don't know if we can go down there and win the tournament but we are going down there to win some games."

Schuck's team this year is led by two pitchers, Deanna Wilfahrt and Kristen Krebs. "If people ask me for stats, I tell them that the only stats that matter to me is who won the game and who lost."

The only stat that Schuck kept was that Jill Hiscock stole home six out of seven attempts. "She is very much the team leader," he said.

He also did not yet know who they would be playing in their first game. "I know that they are teams from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Kansas, Texas and Minnesota entered so far, but I know that there will be more. I was told that there would be 40 teams entered."

Schuck said that he will have no set lineup for the tournament. "I have 13 girls going and everyone is going to play a part."

Wilfahrt, Krebs and Lori Hewitt (a pick-up player from Mankato who will attend Minnesota State-Mankato on a softball scholarship next season) will do the pitching, with Bryanna Balbach and Laura Krenik (LeCenter) sharing catching duties. Mollie Meyer will cover first base, with Alisha Witt and Teresa Schuck sharing second base duties along with seeing some outfield action. Kelsey Rossow will play shortstop in place of Hiscock, who cannot make the trip due to a school commitment.

Two will share third in Chandra Petersen (Cathedral) and Abbie Krenik (LeCenter). Heather Halvorson and Tracy Schuck will play outfield.

They will be missing Lana Howk, who will be unable to make the trip due to health reasons. Kristen Brandel will also be unable to attend.

"The girls are a little in awe right now because of who they are going to play," he said. "We tell them that the bases are the same as up here. We just need to play the game like we know how to play it.

"This is a huge boost with two teams from New Ulm going to play in national tournaments. The kids can see what they can do."

The Kelly Green (14-and-under), under coach Gary Janni, will also begin their play today when play in Midland, Texas. They enter the tournament with a 26-9 record.

"We have had good pitching, hitting and defense," said Janni. "The girls have played well together."

His team started out slow this season, with a 6-5 record, before running off 14 straight wins.

He said that his power is his pitching, paced by Jocelyn Janni who has an amazing record of 24-7 with an ERA of 1.59. In 193 innings, she has struck out 217 hitters and walked only 12.

Janni also leads the team in hitting with a .620 batting average, with Kelly Kuehn hitting .444. and Danelle Bode at .376.

Janni will have Kristi Curry at third, Rachel Kitzberger and shortstop, Amy Waldner at second and Amanda Portner at first. The outfield will be Danelle Bode, Jackie Bode (no relation) and Mandy Domeier. Other members include Jackie Schneider, Chandra Oscarson. Amber Weike, Coresa Leighty, and Katie McCauley. He added two other players to the team in Nicole Fischer and Jennie Burt.

'We need to get the girls down there and show them the site after the opening ceremonies," he said. "Usually the girls get together and hour before the game and get focused. They are usually pretty good about that."

Janni will stress, like Schuck, to do the fundamentals well. "We need to be on top of our bunting game; that has kind of been a sore point this year for us. We need to do that and play steady defense. But we need to bunt the ball.

"Having two teams is big, especially from New Ulm," he said. "This is a big,big boost to New Ulm girls softball."

Janni said that he does not know who his first- round opponent will be.

"They are ready to play, win or lose. I am proud of them (both teams) and New Ulm should be, too."