Helget leads Brewers over Elko

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

FAIRFAX -- Drafting Terry Helget may just be the best decision New Ulm Brewers manager Bob Weber has made all season.

The draftee from Essig won his third straight postseason decision, tossing a four-hitter to lead the Brewers to a 12-1 win over Elko Sunday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Class C State Amateur Baseball Tournament at Memorial Park. The game was called after seven innings on the 10-run rule.

"I like Terry Helget as a draft choice," Weber said. "He's thrown two shutouts for us and now a four-hitter here and they got the one unearned run. And he does carry a good bat."

Helget (3-0) went 1-for-4, but drove in three runs with a homer to left in the top of the fourth inning. Helget's three RBI came just a day after he drove in three runs in the Brewers' 8-5 win over Jackson.

Oh, and then there was his pitching. Helget fanned six and walked only two, and pretty much cruised through the game, allowing the Express to send more than four batters to the plate only twice.

All this from a guy who was tired.

"I could tell from the start I was going to have to try to get some extra energy from somewhere," Helget said. "But I had enough in me and I was more worried about throwing strikes. If I throw strikes, I usually have enough variation in speed and pitch selection where they can't just sit and hammer away."

Helget got another boost of energy from a quick 4-0 lead by the Brewers (29-5). New Ulm scored four times in the second on five singles, including a shot back through the box by Corey Schaefer that scored a pair of runs.

New Ulm's first 11 hits were singles. Not that it bothered any of the Brewers.

"I could care less," said Brewers left fielder Dan Krzmarzick. "If we're scoring 12 runs a game, averaging 16 hits a game, I don't really care what they are."

Krzmarzick went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored -- one of three Brewers with three or more hits. Brad Weber went 4-for-4 with a double and four RBI, and Schaefer was 3-for-3 with three RBI.

Eric Mogenson (9-1) took the loss for Elko (31-15), lasting only two innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits.

New Ulm will play Waterville at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Sleepy Eye.

NU BREWERS 040 440 0 -- 12 16 2

ELKO 000 100 0 -- 1 4 1

Game called on 10-run rule.

Helget and Peters. Mogenson, Lyke (3), Beno (5) and Bjerke. W--Helget, 3-0. L--Mogenson, 9-1. HR--New Ulm, Helget. T--1:49.