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MARSHALL – With a goal to remain undefeated in the Junior Legion Baseball Sub-State G District Tournament Friday, top-seed New Ulm Junior Legion Gold did that by defeating No. 4 Marshall Legion Black 11-4 in the tournament’s championship game.

The win moved Gold on to the DI Junior Legion State Baseball Tournament, which begins Thursday in Bloomington.

Marshall fell in Game 1 of the tournament to Hutchinson but won the next four to be able to play Gold. New Ulm’s Dirk Haynes and Marshall’s Carson Kopitski both pitched 5 1/3 innings for their teams. Haynes had two strikeouts and allowed eight hits and four runs for New Ulm and Kopitski, in his first pitching appearance this season, had two strikeouts while allowing five hits and seven runs. Elliot Schabert led the bats for Gold with two hits, one run and four RBIs, while Kopitski and Shep Jensen both had two hits and an RBI for Black.

Photos by Samantha Davis/Marshall Independent
New Ulm Junior Legion Gold’s Parker Neubauer hits a grounder during the Sub-State G District Championship game against Marshall on Friday at Legion Field in Marshall.

Heading into the game knowing they were just one win away from advancing to state, New Ulm manager Mike Anderson reminded his players what he expected of them.

“Keeping composure and staying within ourselves,” Anderson said. “Playing the game the right way and respecting the game.”

With the score tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth, New Ulm did its damage in the form of seven runs for an 11-4 lead. Kopitski was relieved on the mound by JR Vierstraete for Marshall with one out and the bases loaded.

New Ulm then jumped in front with a line-drive single to left field from Schabert bringing home Candon Briggs and Zach Hubbard to start the scoring. Parker Neubauer walked, loading the bases back up as Gold continued to capitalize on the opportunity. A couple more players ran in off of walks, a fielding error and a hit, as Marshall relieved Vierstraete with Maeyaert with two outs. Maeyaert was then able to strike out a batter for the last out.

With Marshall’s last at-bat attempt in the top of the seventh, Weedman singled to left field before Wherry and Tyler Kraft walked. However, a catch in center field was followed by Weedman getting caught stealing second for two outs. A grounder and step on third for the forceout ended the game and New Ulm was crowned the 2024 Sub-Stage G District champions.

New Ulm got the first run of the game as Schabert hit a grounder to second and safely got to first from a Marshall fielding error. Hubbard was on third and was able to run in on the same play. The bases were loaded as Neubauer singled, bringing in Cohen Domeier and starting the game up 2-0.

Gold then was able to hold Marshall at bay, allowing no runs in and cultivating three quick outs to return to the plate in the bottom of the second.

With two outs, Schabert doubled to center field as Briggs scored, who was initially on second after being walked and advancing. Black was able to end the inning after three fly ball catches from Vierstraete, Jensen and Leyton Wherry.

New Ulm was up 3-0 heading into top of the third.

Marshall got bats swinging as Levi Maeyaert hit a single to get on base and a double to left field from Tyson Louwagie brought him in, making it 3-1 going into the bottom of the inning.

Black in return defended the bases, continuing to show the championship was bound to be a close competition until the end.

“I think we handled ourselves amidst some adversity,” Anderson said. “We got down, we got up and then we cruised a little bit, then we got down … We kept our composure, we stayed within ourselves and we played the game the right way. I just feel like the game is going to pay us back if we play it that way.”

Marshall tied the game in the top of the fourth. Vierstraete and Wherry got on first and second after a hit by pitch and walk. Vierstraete ran home from a single to right field by Kopitski. Wherry also was able to run home from a hard ground ball to right field by Jensen.

New Ulm’s fielding was able to support Haynes on the mound with a catch from Domeier and Neubauer to end the inning.

Hubbard started Gold’s offense with a single and stole second on the next pitch, then third. However he wasn’t able to run in after Louwagie completed a running catch in right field for Marshall to end the inning.

Marshall officially took the lead 4-3 in the top of the fifth with a Wherry double and Eli Weedman scoring from second. New Ulm quickly shut out the inning after that.

Neither team was weakening up on either end, as New Ulm tied the game right back up 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Neubauer hit a line-drive double and took third after a sacrifice fly to center. He was able to run home after a sacrifice bunt to first from Ryan Rathmann.

Domeier took to the mound for New Ulm in the top of the sixth with one out to substitute Haynes, and they secured a no-run inning.

“Pitcher was really, really gritty,” Anderson said. “He gritted through not having his best stuff, and honestly this whole tournament, besides the first game, our pitchers have gotten us through innings but we haven’t had our best pitching weekend.”

After Domeier got his team out of the jam, New Ulm took its big lead in the bottom of the sixth.

“This season as a whole has taught us to play the game the right way,” Anderson said. “Become a family, play hard and respect the game … I couldn’t be more proud of these 16 young men, and all 16 that are in the dugout play a part.”