File photo New Ulm VFW Gold’s Nolan Drill looks to drive a pitch during a recent playoff game at Franklin Rogers Park in Mankato.

By Travis Rosenau

Journal Sports Writer

MANKATO — New Ulm VFW Gold dropped its first game 4-2 against Farmington, but won when it mattered the most in its second game of the day against Shakopee 4-1 on Saturday in the District 2 tournament at Franklin Rogers Park.

With the win against Shakopee, New Ulm will have a chance to get some payback against Farmington on Sunday, but will need to secure two wins in a row in order to advance to state. The first game starts at noon at Franklin Rogers Park.

In the first game of the day for Gold, Alex Hillesheim received the loss, pitching 3 2/3 innings. He allowed eight hits for four runs, while striking out two.

Farmington was on the board in the first inning after an RBI single by Tommy Jasper. Gold tied it up at 1-1 in the second after an RBI base hit by Teddy Giefer scored Braden Zimmerman.

Farmington then added three runs in the third to lead 4-1 after a three-hit inning. Mason Cox drove in a run to cut the deficit down to two runs in the bottom of the third, but Gold couldn’t string enough hits together after to complete the comeback.

Cox and Giefer both were 1 for 3 in Game 1 with one RBI each, while Hillesheim added two hits.

Game 2 on the day saw Shakopee attempting to even the score after its loss to Gold on Friday. T.J. Sweere picked up the complete-game win for Gold with six strikeouts, four walks, three hits and one run allowed.

“The pitching’s there,” Sweere said. “I pitched strikes and I always know I’ve got a good defense behind me. So I just kept throwing in strikes, getting ahead and letting the defense do the rest.”

Gold jumped on Shakopee right away, picking up three runs in a first inning that was led by a two-run double from Zimmerman.

Cox delivered again for Gold in the third inning on an RBI base hit to put his team up 4-0. Shakopee added its only run in the fifth inning, which saw Sweere’s only real struggle all game.

Sweere was cruising along for Gold, with 4 1/3 innings of no-hit ball and just two walks up to that inning. In the fifth, after recording the first out, Sweere allowed back-to-back hits and a walk to fill the bases.

He then walked in a run, but avoided any more damage after that. Shakopee then had a chance to complete some late-inning magic of its own in the seventh, but after a lead-off single and a fly-out to left, Gold turned a double play to end the game and move on to Sunday.

“First game, we couldn’t string any hits together,” Gold coach Mike Munce said. “We know we’re a better hitting team. Then we came out in the first and second inning [Game 2] and exploded for four runs. And our pitcher held that lead and kept us in the game the rest of the way.”

Nolan Drill went 2 for 3 for Gold in Game 2, while Zimmerman was 1 for 2 with an RBI and Cox was 1 for 3 with an RBI.

Munce wants to see his guys play as hard as they can on Sunday in hopes of returning to state.

“I just want them to come out and give it their all,” Munce said. “Give it their all, play our best game and whatever happens happens.”