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By Michael Gassett

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM - Terry Steinbach said he wanted his son Lucas to have a chance to play at Johnson Park.

The park is where the elder Steinbach got his start. His photo hangs prominently over the entrance with his stats proudly displayed for all to see.

On Friday, Lucas got his first opportunity to play at the old park as his Wayzata team took on the Academy Stars in a winner's bracket game in the 2009 State Legion Tournament.

After giving the Stars 10 runs after the first two innings, Wayzata didn't give up and rallied for the 23-13 win.

"This was a lot of fun," the younger Steinbach said. "It started off not so good but it was good to come back and win it. We just had to wake up the bats a little bit. Just about everything worked out for us."

Lucas knows what his dad has done playing at the park and everything he accomplished in a New Ulm uniform. He was glad he finally got the chance to see the New Ulm field for himself.

"It is very cool and very interesting," Lucas said. "It's nice to know what he has done here and just to be here and feel what he went through."

When the Steinbachs found out that the state tournament was going to be in New Ulm the whole family was estatic.

"We were thrilled," he said. "We had a chance to stay with grandma, it's really nice and interesting to be here."

It may be hard to believe but Lucas hasn't been to Johnson Park very much in his life.

"Maybe once," he said. "Not too many times. We normally just go to my grandma's house. We don't normally walk around here because it's usually like Christmas or Easter."

Lucas said he enjoyed growing up with his dad playing Major League Baseball.

"It was fun but I took a lot of stuff for granted," he said. "I just wanted to be a kid and stuff. But it was a lot of fun to be in all of the parks and be around the players once in a while. Now, as I get older I realize all he did."

The older Steinbach is also the Wazyata coach and Lucas is glad to have his dad there.

"He is very easy and just like any other coach," Lucas said. "He has coached us all through the years growing up so it hasn't been any different."

In the game with the Academy Stars, Lucas was 1-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored. Zack Trygstad was 3-for-5 with five RBIs and Matt Harrison was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

Logan Brau earned the win for Wayzata. He pitched 7 1/3 innings of relief and allowed three runs on 12 hits with five strikeouts.

Jack Hogan took the loss for Academy Stars. He pitched one inning of relief and allowed six runs on two hits wiht three walks. Tom Jaede, the starter had the big day at the plate. He was 4-for-5 with six RBIs, two triples and a home run.

Academy Stars plays Mankato at 10 a.m. today at Johnson Park. Wayzata is still winning and it plays the winner of Apple Valley and Rochester in the winner's bracket final at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Johnson.

"It's kind of remarkable it's almost a feeling like we can't be beat," Lucas said. "Hopefully we can keep it up and keep it going through the end of state."