Kaiserhoff tops Bemidji, 8-2

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- New Ulm left-hander Chris Rupert struck out 13 and allowed only five hits as New Ulm Kaiserhoff broke open a close game with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to topple Bemidji 8-2 Friday night in the first round of the Class B State Amateur Baseball Tournament at Sleepy Eye Baseball Park.

The Kaiserhoff (24-7) will face either Mankato or St. Michael at 7:30 p.m. next Friday night in Fairfax.

Josh Hinson led New Ulm with two hits while Brian Raabe pasted a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

Paul Oelrich led the Mudcats (25-10) with three hits, including two triples, and drove in a run.

But it was a case, once again, of Rupert, now 12-0 on the season, coming up big again.

"He has done this (pitch well) for us all year," said Kaiserhoff manager Tom Steinbach. "He has thrown a fastball, change-up combination that seemed to have their hitters off-stride. Again tonight, they had two hits going into the eighth inning and you cannot ask for anything more from a pitcher."

But it seemed like even another great outing by Rupert would not be enough as Mudcat right-hander Scott Seaton held Kaiserhoff bats in check, allowing them only one hit through four innings.

Bemidji took advantage of one misplayed pitch by Rupert to take a 1-0 lead when Oelrich collected his second hit of the game when he drilled a two-out triple to right to score Neil Huewe, who had walked two batters before.

"I got behind on the count to (Oelrich)" said Rupert. "I had to groove a fastball. He is a good hitter. I got in a rhythm then and Ryan (Sauter, Kaiserhoff catcher) called a great game."

Rupert regained control retiring 14 of the next 15 hitters.

New Ulm finally got to Seaton in the fifth when Cory Ranweiler lined a single to center. One out later, Ryan Ellwein moved Ranweiler to second with a base hit to right.

Raabe then gave New Ulm the lead for good when he hammered a 1-2 Seaton offering over the fence in left to lift the "K" to a 3-1 lead.

"He seemed to have us handcuffed us a little," said Steinbach. "Our bats were slow. We just didn't carry the momentum that we had after the Marshall series. Brian's home run was a huge hit, tonight especially."

Raabe had been retired by Seaton in his two previous at-bats in the game.

"He hung a curve ball and I happened to get my bat through and hit a home run," said Raabe about his second roundtripper of the season. "It was a little way to jumpstart the team a little bit and it worked out great."

New Ulm added insurance runs in the eighth inning, scoring five times with four of the runs unearned.

BEMIDJI 001 000 001--2 5 3

NU KAISERHOFF 000 030 05x--8 6 1

W--Chris Rupert. L--Scott Seaton. 3B--Bemidji, Oelrich 2. HR--New Ulm, Raabe.