NEW ULM — Two years ago, New Ulm High School head baseball coach Kevin Briggs was an assistant coach for the New Ulm Junior Legion.

They had a tall left-handed pitcher, Ethan Stade, on the roster that Briggs had on the varsity roster as a sophomore.

But because of veteran pitching depth, Stade did not see any varsity action.

During the summer, however, Briggs took notice of his future ace as Stade posted an impressive 9-1 mark in the summer.

“I saw a kid who had a good frame — he was a lefty and he loved to compete,” Briggs said. “And all of those things added up to the potential to have some success.”

Two years later, and with a year off because of the pandemic, Stade achieved the potential that Briggs saw. The senior southpaw posted an impressive 7-1 record for New Ulm High School along with a minuscule 1.18 ERA, earning the title of the 2021 All-Journal Baseball Player of the Year. Stade, who will continue his baseball journey at Southwest Minnesota State University next year, struck out 60 batters in 47 1/3 innings.

He was the Eagles’ horse on the mound. When he took to the mound, he changed the image of the Eagles.

“When Ethan was on the mound, we were a great baseball team,” Briggs said.

Last year because of the pandemic and no baseball, Stade had to do things on his own to keep in baseball shape.

“I ran a lot because I knew that my legs, as a pitcher, were one of the most important things for pitching,” Stade said. “I tried to build up those leg muscles and I tried to eat as best as I could.”

Stade said that pitching was an art that came naturally to him.

“So I did not have to do much to get back into a baseball rhythm,” he said. “I did my own thing and I always kept my focus.”

Stade said that he worked out and he also got some valuable advice from teammate Hunter Sehr, also a left-handed pitcher, in developing another pitch.

“He talked to me about how to throw a better change-up and how to grip it,” Stade said of Sehr.

Stade added that pitch to his fastball that opposing hitters had trouble catching up to, giving him more weapons.

And Stade said that he has also gained consistency since two years ago.

“During the Junior Legion year, there were a couple of starts that I had where I was all over the place,” he said. “But this year I definitely have seen an improvement in my control and consistency. I am not walking batters — not giving up hits and not letting anyone get on base.”

Stade knows that as his baseball journey continues, he needs to keep improving as a pitcher next season for the Mustangs.

“I need to keep getting bigger and adding more muscle,” he said. “I need to get more power and speed behind the ball. And I just want to be a player who helps the team out. I do not want to be there for myself, I want to be there for the team and help them out as best as I can.”

All-Journal Baseball 2021

First Team

1. Ethan Stade, Sr., NUHS, P — 44 (2)

2. Mason Leonard, Sr., Springfield, P/CF — 41

3. Carter Benz, Sr., Wabasso, P/C — 40 (1)

4. Sam Knowles, Jr., Cathedral, IF/P — 35

5. Carter Lang, Jr., NUHS, 2B/P — 28

T6. Tori Helget, Sr., Springfield, SS/P — 26

T6. Cole Ranweiler, Sr., NUHS, SS/OF — 26

8. Will Carlson, Sr., Wabasso, SS — 20

9. Hunter Sehr, Jr., NUHS, OF/P — 12

Second Team

T10. Caleb Carlovsky, Sr., MVL, P/IF — 11

T10. Kadon Strong, Sr., Sleepy Eye, OF — 11

12. Carson Domeier, Jr., St. Mary’s, P/OF/IF — 10

13. Brendon Buerkle, Jr., Springfield, 1B — 8

14. Evan Wiltscheck, Sr., NUHS, C — 7

T15. Leyton Brau, Sr., MVL, IF/P — 6

T15. Jakob Nachreiner, Fr., Springfield, P/2B — 6

T15. Isaiah Rieser, Jr., Cathedral, IF/P — 6

T15. Josh Giefer, Jr., MVL, P/IF — 6

Honorable Mentions

Ty Altermatt, Sr., Wabasso, P/3B

Noah Wilmes, Sr., Cathedral, OF/P

Jaden Drill, Jr., NUHS, 1B

Dylan Batzlaff, Sr., Springfield, 3B/P

Spencer Hoffman, Sr., St. Mary’s, OF/IF/P

*EDITOR’S NOTE: Only players nominated by coaches were eligible for All-Journal honors. No nominations were received from Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop, Madelia or Nicollet.

*First-place votes are in parentheses.