New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

Gold Run Ends After Five Straight Gopher Classic Wins

New Ulm Gold's run in the Gopher classic ended Monday afternoon with a 7-5 loss to Lakeville North. Lakeville North had advanced with a 7-3 win over Sioux Falls West. There were 84 teams from mul;t-state venues chasing the championship prize and only four came out of the quarter-finals. All New Ulm games were played at Vet's field in Minnetonka.

In championship play Tuesday, Elk Grove edged Eagan 4-2 and Coon Rapids drubbed Lakefield North 15-2 to set up a championship game between Coon Rapids and Elk Grove at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Results were not posted on the state Legion website thorugh Wednesday a.m.

Reports on Monday early games

New Ulm became the only team to score two runs in one game against Papillion, Nebraska in the 9 a.m. game Monday and it was enough for the 2-1 win to advance to the semi-finals of the 64-team Gopher baseball classic.

Erich Prokosch earned the win over Papillion, NE and had the go-ahead RBI at the plate. He pitched all seven innings, allowing three hits, striking out six and didn't allow an earned run. At the plate, he was 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI. Jory Dove was 2-for-3.

In the second game, Gold fell to Lakeville North 7-5. Dan Blackstad took the loss. He pitched three innings and struck out one, allowing five runs. Dove pitched three innings and struck out two while giving up an earned run.

New Ulm Journal reported Dan Blackstad losing to Lakefield, allowing all five runs. He pitched three innings allowing five runs. Dove pitched three innings and struck out two while giving up an earned run.

Following is the summary of activities for the Gold Friday though Sunday.

This item previously posted to the website Sunday, July 15, 2012.

MINNETONKA - New Ulm Gold plays powerful Papillion, Nebraska today at 9 a.m. at Vet's Field in Minnetonka in the quarter-finals of the 64-team Jim Hanus Gopher Classic for American Legion baseball underway in the metro area.

New Ulm's initial game was rained out (unplayable field) but Gold won its next four starts to advance to the championship gamed.

Papillion was impressive in reeling off five straight wins and gave up only two runs in the streak.
It defeated Cheyenne, WY 8-0 Friday, Saturday beat Oakdale 7-0 and Shakopee 4-2 before finishing Sunday with a 13-0 triumph over Marshall and a 2-1 squeaker over Excelsior, outscoring it's opponents 34-2.

Gold Won 14-7 over Sartell and Yankton, SD 12-4 Saturday and finished Sunday with a 14-6 triumph over St. Louis Park and 5-1 win over Grand Forks.

New Ulm Journal Monday reported the following results on the weekend games:

In Sunday's victory over Grand Forks, the winning pitcher was Chase Meyer, who went seven innings, giving up one earned run and five hits and walking four.

Hitting for Gold were: Jory Dove, 2-for 2; Drew Pfaff, 2-for-4; Dan Blackstad, 2-for-4 with a double; Zach Hoffmann, 2-for-4, with a home run.

In the win over St. Louis Park, the winning pitcher was Tanner Kluis, who went five innings with six earned runs, eight hits, two strikeouts and five walks. Matt Bergmann pitched the final two innings.

Hitting for Gold were: Jason Shaul, 4-for-5, three doubles; Blackstad, 3-for-3, two doubles; Kevin Larson, 3-for-4, one double; Hoffmann, 3-for-5 and one home run.

In Saturday action, Gold defeated Yankton, S.D., 12-4.

Colin Wendinger got the pitching win, going six innings, giving up four earned runs and seven hits, striking out 13 and throwing three walks.

Gold hitters were: Pfaff, 3-for-4; Tim Kehren, 3-for-5; Larson, 2-for-4; Hoffmann, 2-for-4, one double; and Blackstad, 2-for-2.

Gold defeated Sartell 13-6 in the first game on Saturday.

Jordan Guggisberg got the pitching win, going five innings, giving up five earned runs and seven hits. He threw five strikeouts and five walks. Dove pitched the final two innings, giving up one earned run and four hits.

Gold hitters were: Shaul, 3-for-4, a triple; Hoffmann, 3-for-5; Kehren, 3-for-5; and Larson, 2-for-4.