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

JORDAN -- Hanska Bullheads will battle St. Peter in a re-match for the state championship of the MSMABA state tournament AA Sunday here at 7:30 p.m. Hanska won last year for the third time in four seasons including back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008.

Right-hander Kyle Messner gave the Hanska Bullheads a stellar pitching performance Saturday night in Belle Plaine, overpoweriing the Prior Lake Mariners in the MSMABA semi-final game. Messner was the role of "closer" all season for Hanska, earning many saves, and usually throwing only an inning or two per game in relief. But on this night, he was asked to start the game in place of Terry Steinbach who was nursing an injured knee. After allowing a lead-off homerun on his 2nd pitch of the game, Messner fanned 16 and scattered five other hits the rest of the way to earn a 9-1 victory. He also executed two other put-outs in the contest, which left only three ground ball outs for the rest of the defense.
The Bullheads scored in the top of the first inning on an error and base hits by Dave Fauth and Tom Steinbach. The game remained tied until the fourth when Mike Marquardt lead off with a solo homerun. Later in the inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Terry Steinbach deposited a pitch over the left field wall for a grand-slam giving Hanska a comfortable 7-1 lead. A Marquardt double followed by a Brian Sieve single plated run number eight later that same inning. The final run was produced on base hits by Todd Olson and Fauth in the 5th.

Hanska Bullheads ....... 100 710 0 --- 9-12-2
Prior Lake Mariners .... 100 000 0 --- 1-6-6
Messner and Felber: Manfred, Rooney and McCallin. Loser-Manfred.
HR- Schultz, Marquardt, Terry Steinbach. 2B- Marquardt

Submitted by Bruce Jacobs - Hanska Bullheads media rep.