New Munich ends Essig's season

Errors help give New Munich 5-1 win

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

BELLE PLAINE -- Of the first 15 outs made by the New Munich Silver Streaks in the game with Essig, nine came courtesy of strikeouts from Bluejay left-hander Jacob Mertz.

Getting the other six outs posed a problem for the Bluejays.

Essig committed seven errors in the first five innings and a base-running blunder in the second inning that took the Bluejays out of a potential scoring chance. All it all, it led to a 5-1 season-ending loss to New Munich in the first round of the Class "C" state tournament in Belle Plaine.

Mertz took the loss for Essig, going six innings and allowing four runs -- all unearned-- while striking out nine.

Jim Thull got the win for New Munich.

Colby Pack, a draftee from Lamberton, had the only extra base hit and drove in the only run for Essig, which finishes the season at 27-8.

"The errors were the difference in the game," said Essig manager Doug Radloff. "The hits were pretty even (an 8-6 advantage for New Munich). ... But seven errors and a big base-running mistake cost us the game."

New Munich scored the only runs that it needed in the first inning on two Essig errors. Chad Funk walked and stole second. Joe Hoppe hit the ball to Mertz, who fielded the ball and threw it to second. But Mertz's throw to shortstop Kyle Helget was dropped, leaving the Silver Streaks with runners on first and second with one out. Pat Nathe's single scored Funk before a two-out throwing error by third baseman Terry Helget allowed the second run to score.

Essig mounted a threat in the second inning when Radloff singled and Kyle Helget walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. But Thull caught Radloff too far off second and was out at third after a short rundown. Helget was then caught trying to race to second on the play for a double play. Terry Helget walked and Mitch Stueber singled following the double play.

"That did not help," said Radloff. "We don't run bases well. We left a lot of runners stranded (seven)," he said.

The Silver Streaks then added another unearned run in the second thanks to two more Bluejay errors. Karl Funk singled with one out and went to second on an errant pick-off throw by Mertz. Funk then raced home on Joe Hoppe's base hit to right field.

"We have not played bad defense," said Radloff. "But when we have played bad, we have played bad. We have not had too many of these games. It seems like this came all at once."

Essig scored its only run in the third inning when Larry Haala singled and trotted home on a double down the left field line by Colby Pack.

New Munich padded its lead in the fourth inning when Joe Stangler, who doubled and scored later in the game, tripled and scored on a fielder's choice and ensuing error for a 4-1 lead.

"Jacob pitched well for us," said Radloff. "Even with seven errors and the base-running mistake, we were still in the game. Jacob did not get any help from our defense. He deserved the start today."

New Munich added its final run on a double, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.

"We felt that we had a team with enough good pitching to go deep in the tournament," said Radloff. "But if you don't play your best baseball, you are done."

ESSIG 001-000-000=1-6-7

NEW MUNICH 210-100-01X=5-8-2