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

Members of the American Legion's state baseball tournament committee worked on plans for the event starting July 29 and culminating Aug. 1 with the crowing of a champion to represent Minnesota in the midwest region playoffs. Committee members attending Tuesday's meeting are pictured in the attachment.

Co-directors Vern Kitzberger and Paul Sabatino and staff committee chairs worked on details of the opening banquet July 29, housing, food, communications, contingency plans and other aspects for the tournament. A banquet for the teams July will be attended by over 350 players, coaches and immediate team personnel. A limited number of tickets for the public are available above that number through the Chamber of Commerce and Running's via Toni Breu. Tickets are $20 each. Games will be played at Essig and Sleepy Eye as well as the two New Ulm parks.

Although many volunteers are or will be assisting in running the tournament, core guiding committee helping Kitzberger and Sabatino include: Jean Prochniak, financial; James Bastian, media relations; John Fischer, venue; Pat Schugel, stadium; Gordy Palmer, officials, Paul Wienke, housing and Breu, banquet. Sleepy Eye representatives are John Hirschboeck and Tom Schroepfer with Terry Helget representing Essig.

A new feature is expect to bring wireless communications to the two Johnson and Mueller Parks along with laptop and hand-held computers to record the baseball scoring activity. District playoffs will commence soon around the state to name the teams who will compete in the double elimination tournament.