×

Mankato National beats New Ulm Blue 11-3

Staff photo by Steve Muscatello New Ulm Legion Blue shortstop Nate Hauser looks to throw to first as Mankato National baserunner Ben Scott slides into second during playoff action Wednesday in Sleepy Eye. For more photos of this event go to cu.nujournal.com

SLEEPY EYE — New Ulm Blue took an early lead thanks to an error and back-to-back wild pitches, but was unable to keep top-seeded Mankato National at bay in an 11-3 first-round loss in the Division I, Substate 2 Legion baseball tournament on Wednesday at Sleepy Eye.

Blue (2-15) did not get a hit until the sixth inning, when Ryley Hansen took a full-count offering and drove it over the second baseman’s head into shallow right field.

However, Josh Johnson had some trouble in the second inning for National (24-3), hitting two batters and walking another before allowing one to score on a throwing error and the other two to score on back-to-back wild pitches. This gave Blue a 3-2 lead until the bottom of the fourth, when National scored two runs to retake the lead.

Johnson eventually settled down to get the win, reaching the full American Legion-regulated 120-pitch pitch count in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out seven batters and allowed three unearned runs on one hit.

Brandon Seidl battled through much of the game but was pulled after 6 1/3 in getting tagged with the loss. He gave up 11 runs, six earned on 15 hits. Brendan Bieraugel pitched the final 1 2/3 innings and allowed one hit.

Minnesota Valley Lutheran alumnus Alec Gratz was 3 for 4 from the leadoff spot for Mankato, nabbing two RBIs and scoring two runs with a standup triple in the second inning. Gratz scored the first run of the game after singling to center field and crossing the plate in the first inning thanks to the first of three errors by Blue.

Gratz was joined by Luke Sellner, who was 4 for 4 with RBI singles in the first and fifth innings, as well as Peter Haley, who was 3 for 5 with two runs and a double.

New Ulm Blue moves to the consolation bracket, where it will play the loser of the game between No. 5-seeded Faribault and No. 4-seeded Worthington. Blue will play either team at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Stark Township.

NUB 030 000 000 — 3 1 3

MN 200 220 50x — 11 16 2

B Seidl, Bieraugel (7) and Sweere; Johnson, Hoppe (8) and Meidl.

W – Johnson (M) 7 2/3 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 120 pitches

L – B Seidl (N) 6 1/3 IP, 15 H, 11 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 103 pitches

Leading hitters – NUB: Hansen 1-2 1 R 1 HP; MN: Gratz 3-4 2 RBI 2 R 3B, Meidl 2-5 1 RBI 2B, Haley 3-5 2 R 2B, Sellner 4-4 2 RBI 2 R 1 BB.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today