Brewers battle for Class A state berth
Travel to Faribault Friday night
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By Jim Bastian
sports@nujournal.com
NEW ULM -- When the New Ulm Brewers were moved up to Class A this year by the Minnesota Baseball Association, no one believed that the Brewers had a chance to earn a state tournament trip.
But come Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in Faribault in a Section 1A elimination playoff game, the 21-4 Brewers can do just that with a win over the Faribault Lakers.
Right now, Brewers manager Al Flor said he does not know a lot about the 13-12-1 Lakers, who play in the DRS League, with not having played them in recent seasons.
New Ulm comes into this state tournament-qualifying game having gone 2-1 thus far in the Section 1A playoffs.
"We have played pretty well and we feel that we can beat anyone right now," Flor said.
And the Brewers are coming off a 3-1 road win over Hastings that avenged an earlier playoff loss to the Hawks.
Brewers pitchers Jace Schaefer started and threw 4 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball before Tate Becker closed the door with 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball and struck out nine.
Flor said that Schaefer's pitching style was all part of the game plan.
"Years ago when we had all of the college players come back, they would always complain that they could not hit pitchers who threw slow," Flor said. "And the entire team from Hastings is all college kids -- 19 or 20 years old -- and how would you feel facing a pitcher like Jace, who throws 50 miles an hour, to a pitcher who throws 90 miles an hour.
"That was the game plan from Saturday -- we rolled the dice and we are a team -- and Sunday Jace contributed big as a pitcher."
Flor followed up Schaefer with Becker, who throws around 35 miles an hour faster than Schaefer, to close out the game.
"Tate is a competitor, considering he has an injured thumb right now, and that is making it difficult for him to know if he will be available for us [Friday]," Flor said. "And if he is not, it hurts too because it takes his bat out of the lineup, and that hurts.
"But there are other players who are stepping up for us. We are running the bases, we are bunting the ball and we are making defensive plays and throwing guys out. It has been fun."
Flor said that each player has contributed in their own way.
"Our pitching has been very strong in the playoffs and Colton Schaefer has been swinging a hot bat for us and Lucas Suess has done a great job at shortstop for us," Flor said. "Josh Seidl has been swinging a good bat for us -- he came into the Dundas game swinging well, and Cole Ranweiler has made some nice assists from the outfield and he is also swinging the bat well."
Flor also said that veteran Wade French has performed well as the DH.
"And Sam Keckeisen has made some good defensive plays for us -- everyone has contributed in one way or another," Flor said.
New Ulm is now one way away from a Class A state tournament trip that seemed impossible when the season started.
"There is a belief going on right now that we can win and we can earn it," Flor said. "It would be unique and fun. We are playing competitive baseball. We have extended our season further than maybe we all anticipated. But now we are one win away from playing another weekend in the Class A state tournament. It is enjoyable and fun and this year has been one where a weight has been lifted off of our shoulders because this was not expected."
If the Brewers win, they are guaranteed a spot in the Class A state tournament, but would need to play a seeding game on Saturday, and unlike Class C or B, there is no drafting of players for the state tournament.
Flor said that he is going to send Mitch Bockenstedt to the mound Friday night.