NEW ULM - According to coach Bob Skillings, New Ulm VFW Blue has been playing good baseball as of late.
Wednesday even was no exception, but the breaks weren't in VFW Blue's favor in a 6-3 loss to St. Peter at Mueller Park.
Drew Pfaff took the loss for Blue, going 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four. Nate Schoenherr pitched in relief.
Nate Miller, who plays for Minnesota Valley Lutheran, went the distance for St. Peter and picked up the win. He conceded three runs while striking out 12 and walking just one.
"Their pitcher [Miller] got stronger as the game went on and shut us down later on." Skillings said.
St. Peter got off to a quick start when Miller took a walk after a long at-bat. He scored after two St. Peter hits.
VFW Blue came back quickly in the bottom half of the second when Ted Skillings drilled a double to center. Erich Prokosch followed up with a single to center. New Ulm tied the game when Prokosch stole second, and Skillings took home on the throw to second.
New Ulm was on the attack again in the third when Skillings singled and stole second. Prokosch brought him in with a base hit.
With Nick Larson at third and Dan Reinke at first, Troy Altmann singled down the left-field line.
Unfortunately for New Ulm, that is the last time it scored in the contest.
St. Peter narrowed the gap in the fourth by scoring a run and cutting the New Ulm lead to 3-2.
St. Peter took three straight walks. New Ulm committed the lone error in the game when it couldn't turn a Troy Sandford ground ball into an out.
Blake Leonard and Lance Wilson followed with an RBI sacrifice fly and a RBI single. New Ulm got out of the inning, but not before St. Peter took a 5-3 lead.
St. Peter added an insurance run when Seth Wienner led off with a double and was brought in by an RBI infield hit by Wilson in the seventh.
New Ulm and St. Peter each had eight hits, but New Ulm could not get the hits it needed late in the game.
VFW Blue did play solid baseball throughout the game, making just one error. However, it along with a few other plays, were costly in the outcome.
"It was good baseball tonight." coach Skillings said. "The bats were there. We played good defense, but we can always tighten it up. We have been on a roll. I think the last six games we won, and had a great tournament in Rochester and we've gelled well as a team.
VFW Blue improves to 16-7 and are in action next Wednesday in Sherburn and Welcome
"In Rochester, we came back in three games and the team is playing together and as a team and working hard." coach Skillings said.
