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VFW Gold returns to state tourney

File photo by Steve Muscatello New UlM VFW Gold’s Braden Zimmerman tosses a pitch during a recent game at Johnson Park in New Ulm. In the background is first baseman Aaron Portner.

NEW ULM — Before this VFW baseball season started, players and coaches on New Ulm VFW Gold had one goal for the season.

“We wanted to finish at the state tournament,” said head coach Mike Munce, who has guided New Ulm to its second straight trip to the state tournament. “That is our goal every year.”

And while it is New Ulm’s second trip to the state in as many years, this team was a little different from last year’s entrant.

“We only had two players back from last year in Jaden Domeier and Mark Schommer,” Munce said about his team that has posted a 27-14-1 record this year. “And this year’s team was a little different from last year’s. I have a good mixture from all three high schools so team chemistry took a little longer and it did take a little while for the kids to believe in themselves and to buy into the system and figure out they could win. About mid-season we started turning it around and got hot at the right time.”

Munce said that buying into the system meant the style of play that he and assistant coach Kevin Briggs wanted.

“We wanted to play smart baseball and each player figuring out their roles on the team,” he said. “And what it takes to win. We did lose a couple of close games in the Alexandria Tournament and I think there we figured out what a mistake or two in a game can do.”

Munce stresses the total team concept and said that there is no one or two players that stand out.

“We stress being all 15 players strong and without all 15 of them we would not be where we are right now,” he said.

He did not release any individual statistics.

As a team, New Ulm is hitting .316 with 52 doubles, 12 triples and 60 stolen bases.

The pitching staff has recorded 158 strikeouts and has a WHIP (walks, hits per innings pitched) of 1.28. They have walked 102 opposing batters.

“There were no players who jumped up and surprised me this year,” Munce said. “I watched them play all spring and this is the group that I wanted — I knew what they were capable of — so no one surprised me.”

Pitcher Alex Hillesheim thinks that one of the strengths of the team is the team unity and chemistry.

“As this year has gone by we have really grown together as a team and we have bonded,” he said. “It is easier to play like that as one unit when we are close. It is not hard to mix players from three schools because we all understand.

“Towards the end of the year we all buckled down and decided that it was time that we stepped it up and playing how we know we can,” Hillesheim said. “Coach Munce talked to us after our last regular season game and he told us that it is time that we get going. We all took that to heart and when the districts came we were really there. Coach really kept us in mind on how much fun baseball really is and playing it with your friends. He shows us how true baseball players do it.”

Munce said that first-round opponent Fergus Falls is 28-6.

“They like to steal and bunt and are a scrappy team,” Munce said.

Munce said his team will prepare for Thursday’s State Tournament game like the team does for any other game.

“We’ll come at them hard, play our game and whatever happens, happens,” Munce said.

If New Ulm does win, it would play at noon on Friday at Baker Field. A loss would drop New Ulm to a 7:30 p.m. game Thursday night in Willmar at the Orange Field.

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