Kaiserhoff advances to state

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- Cory Ranweiler pitched 6 2/3 innings of one-hit ball in relief, and the New Ulm Kaiserhoff scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning to defeat Green Isle 8-2 Sunday night in the Section 4B tournament.

The win assures the Kaiserhoff of a berth in the Class "B" state tournament on Friday, Aug. 20 in Jordan. It will host Mankato beginning on Wednesday in a best-of-three series to determine which team goes as champion and runnerup.

Nick Schatz took the loss for Green Isle whose season ends at 22-17.

Keith McClellan, Jeff Dolan and Derik Johnson each had two hits for New Ulm (20-6). Eric Austvold and Jeff Dolan each doubled for the Kaiserhoff. Pete Meier drove in two runs.

Both teams scored single runs in the first inning with the Irish scoring on an RBI single by Brian Scherschlight. The Kaiserhoff matched that with a run in the bottom of the inning when Keith McClellan walked, stole second and took third on an Eric Austvold groundout. McClellan then scored when Cory Ranweiler's ground ball was booted at second base.

The Irish regained the lead in the top of the second. Tim Luskey singled before Kaiserhoff starting pitcher Ryan Wellmann's throwing error on a Tim Gieseke bunt put Irish runners on first and third with no outs. Luskey went home on a Derek Roberts' groundout.

In the third inning, Green Isle put runners on first and second with one out on a walk to Scherschlight and a single by Mac Zachow. Ranweiler relieved Wellmann and struck out 10 straight Green Isle hitters.

That inning-ending double play sparked the Kaiserhoff as the team scored four times in the bottom of the third inning. Jeff Dolan singled and Cory Ranweiler walked. Dolan tagged and went to third on Brady Ranweiler's fly out. Dolan scored on Eric Austvold's double to tie the game. A walk to Derik Johnson and a single by Blake Thorson loaded the bases. Pete Meier's single plated two runs. Tim Luskey relieved Schatz and was greeted by an RBI single by Jace Marti for a 5-2 lead. New Ulm made the lead 6-2 in the fourth when Dolan doubled and scored on a Cory Ranweiler single. A fielder's choice in the fifth scored New Ulm's seventh run before the Kaiserhoff closed out its scoring in the eighth on a Keith McClellan RBI single.

LAMBERTON 2, NEW ULM BREWERS 0 -- John Hansen held the Brewers scoreless in the win over New Ulm Tony Burt took the loss for the Brewers who are 0-2 in Section 2C play.