All three high schools in New Ulm are having early season success on the baseball diamond as they have combined for a 13-2 mark.

Both New Ulm High School and New Ulm Cathedral are unbeaten at 4-0 and 5-0, respectively, with Minnesota Valley Lutheran at 4-2.

CHARGERS’ PITCHING DUO EXCELLING

MVL head coach Jim Buboltz said that he is happy with the start his Chargers have achieved.

“We are in a new conference [South Central] with a lot of new teams,” he said. “And overall we have gotten some solid starting pitching with the exception of one game that I blame more on the weather than I would on our pitching. And our starting pitching has been the biggest surprise — a pleasant surprise — but it also is a group of kids that have put in a lot more work in the offseason. That is why there is success at Public and Cathedral and the Sleepy Eye teams is because they put in more time in.”

One of the Chargers losses came in a 7-6 game against Madelia in the first game of the season.

“We were up 6-0 and Josh [Vander Plas] only pitched four innings and we were on a pitch count — he struck out 10 of the 12 batters he faced. But then we kicked the ball around — we needed five outs and we had five errors instead. The tires fell off late for us so I do not blame our pitching for that.”

And the 12-0 loss to Maple River was a case of seven MVL errors in the game.

“Again the tires fell off again,” Buboltz said. “Outside of that, I am happy but I know that our guys are not quite satisfied.”

And the starting pitching of Vander Plas and Kaden Peterson has been the best of any duo in the area.

“In Josh’s three games he has struck out 33 batters and just walked one batter,” Buboltz said. “And KP has 23 strikeouts and two walks in his two games. Josh’s ERA is 1.14 and KP is at 0.62. Both Josh and KP have had games this season where their strike rate has been 75 percent or higher — our defense knows that the ball is going to be around the plate so if we can tighten up our defense it can get even better.”

Another factor for the Chargers’ success when Peterson is on the mound has been the ability of Brennan Bendix to fill in at catcher.

“He is hitting .553 right now and the way that he catches a great game,” Buboltz said.

The Chargers have four games next week. On Monday they travel to Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther before heading to Lake Crystal on Tuesday. Thursday they are at Sleepy Eye Public before hosting Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s on Friday.

GREYHOUNDS’ STREAK GROWING

New Ulm Cathedral is 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Tomahawk Conference.

In their five games this season, the Greyhounds have outscored opponents 64-11.

“We have had some games where we have been able to string some hits together and put up some big innings,” Cathedral head baseball coach Alan Woitas said. “And in those games we have seen different people contribute in our lineup which provides some depth for us.”

Woitas thinks the early success has been a combination of good offense and equally good pitching.

“We have had two great pitching performances from Jake Finstad, and Colin Anderson has had two good outings,” Woitas said. “Both Joey Schugel and Caleb Forstner have done well on the mound.”

Woitas said that the pitching has been backed by a solid defense.

“We have been good in all facets of our game,” he said. “We have also found ways to manufacture runs and put us in position to win games.”

And Woitas said that his team has been aggressive at the plate this year.

“We have been attacking pitches in the strike zone and have gotten the ball in play and putting pressure on opposing teams defense,” he said. “And we have a lot of guys who are hitting the ball for a high average. It has been a good collective effort so far.”

Woitas said that Josh Forstner has done a good job stepping into the catcher spot.

“With Eli Anderson being hurt, we look forward to him coming back and do some catching duties,” Woitas said. “But Josh has done a nice job of handling an experienced pitching staff.”

The Greyhounds have a road game on Monday at Sleepy Eye Public before hosting Sleepy Eye St. Marys in a doubleheader on Thursday.

EAGLES UNBEATEN, ANDERSON UNSURPRISED

New Ulm High School has posted a 4-0 mark and 3-0 in the Big South West standings, one game behind 4-0,5-0 Marshall.

“I am not surprised that we are 4-0,” Eagles head coach Mike Anderson said. “I never look at a season and say we are going to win this many games. What I expect out of this team regardless of age is that they come to work every day and that they work hard and compete.”

Anderson thinks that the Eagles strengths so far this season have been the pitching and defense.

“But ultimately it is our drive and desire,” he said.

And the defense has been solid with just one error in the last 19 innings of play.

“And it is not that we are playing clean defense, but the outs that we are getting on the bases are at a pretty high level,” Anderson said. “In bunting situations we are getting the lead runner out — in comebackers we are getting the lead runner out — and we are getting stuff tha you expect to see at the end of the year, we are doing a good job of that right now.”

While left-hander Tanner Backer is the Eagles’ ace, Anderson has several good arms to complete a four-man rotation, featuring Candon Briggs, Kolton Achman and Dirk Haynes.

“And Zach Hubbard is also going to get a chance to pitch,” Anderson said. “Our pitching depth is pretty good.”

As a team, the Eagles are hitting .300.

“And our quality at-bat average is at a high level,” Anderson said. “And we run the bases really well — we have 18 stolen bases through four games.”

New Ulm will have a tough schedule next week as they host Fairmont Monday before going to Marshall on Tuesday.

“Both of those teams have depth and Fairmont has a good player in Jensen Livesay,” Anderson said. “And Marshall — in my opinion — is as strong a team in the state as there is. They may be towards the top. Their pitching depth and lineup depth is elite. Look at their box scores and they have 10-runned all but one opponent.”

Anderson said that his team needs to maintain their current level of compete.