Jr. Legion opens with win
By Jim Bastian — Journal Sports WriterArticle Photos
NEW ULM - For six innings, Minnetonka lefthander Andrew Weber frustrated New Ulm Junior Legion hitters as he worked out of three potential New Ulm scoring threats and picked off a runner at first.
But in the top of the seventh inning, New Ulm's Zach Hoffmann came through.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Hoffmann turned on a 1-1 offering from Weber and belted it to deep left-field for a three-run double as New Ulm Junior Legion topped Minnetonka 3-0 in the Junior Upper Midwest Classic.
Adam Loose led New Ulm with three hits with Kevin Larson adding two.
New Ulm started the seventh inning scoring after two were out on singles from Larson and Loose plus a walk to Aaron Pfaff.
While Hoffmann's double sparked New Ulm to the win, it was a stellar pitching performance from Colton Petron that allowed Hoffmann to do his thing.
Petron allowed just two hits - both from Alex Twenge.
Other than that, Petron was in command striking out five while not walking a batter.
For Junior Legion coach Dave Buegler, it was a timely hit and a strong pitching job that gave New Ulm the opening-game win.
"With the bases loaded at the end of the game, there is no one that you want hitting other than Zach," Buegler said. "He is a hitter. And Colton threw a heck of a game. When you beat a quality team like Minnetonka, that is huge."
New Ulm threatened in the first when Loose led off with a double and took third on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Pfaff. But Weber worked out of the jam.
Weber worked out of New Ulm scoring threat in the third inning when Larson singled, was sacrificed to second by Loose before Hoffmann reached on an error to put runners on first and third. But Weber retired Jason Shaul on a groundout.
New Ulm placed a runner on second with one out in the sixth when Shaul walked and took second on a wild pitch before Weber struck out Petron and Dan Blackstad to end the inning.
"This is a nice way to start off the tournament," Buegler said. "You cannot ask for more than that."
