Staff photo by Travis Rosenau New Ulm VFW Gold’s Logan Mielke connects for a double during a Junior Upper Midwest Classic game with Osseo on Friday night at Johnson Park.

NEW ULM — Logan Mielke doubled twice and drove in four runs and New Ulm VFW Gold left-hander Zach Riederer allowed just a first-inning run to Osseo as New Ulm won 8-1 Friday night at Johnson Park.

The win improved New Ulm to 2-0 in Pool “A” play of the Junior Upper Midwest Classic.

Riederer allowed seven hits and fanned three in getting the win.

Travis Godfrey took the loss for Osseo.

Mielke and Cody Serbus each had two hits for New Ulm.

New Ulm VFW Gold now plays Hastings at 12:30 p.m. today at Johnson Park and will then play around 3:30 p.m. — win or lose — because of the Red Wyczawski plaque dedication at 3:30 p.m.

“Our guys are playing well right now,” Gold head coach Collin Helget said. “Our bats have really come alive as of late and we are running the bases hard. And our pitchers are doing a phenomenal job getting out of jams and throwing strikes.”

Thursday saw New Ulm left-hander Kaden Larson blank Mankato Junior Legion.

Friday it was another southpaw in Riederer who dominated Osseo.

After allowing a first-inning run on a Braden Haag single, Riederer hung a doughnut on the Orioles the rest of the way.

“Zach did a heck of a job pitching,” Helget said. “He got into a couple of tight spots with runners on base, but he was able to limit the damage.”

New Ulm tied the game in the bottom of the first on a Riederer sacrifice fly and then took a 2-1 lead in the third when Riederer singled and raced home on Mielke’s first double of the game.

New Ulm then essentially salted the game away with six runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Ethan Thompson reached on an error and Gavin Epper doubled Thompson home. Cody Serbus singled and Parker Kamm’s sacrifice fly plated Epper for a 4-1 lead.

Jake Finstad walked and Matt Seidl singled to load the bases.

After a Riederer fly out, Mielke tomahawked a Godfrey offering for a three-run double and a 7-1 lead.

“He (Mielke) did not play yesterday, but he came in the lineup today and he was ready to go,” Helget said. “Kind of like I have been preaching all year — guys have to be ready when their name is called.”

Mielke trotted home on a Larson single for an 8-1 lead.