By CJ Siewert

The 2012 St. Peter amateur baseball team’s 26-game schedule is now posted. The Saints begin the season on May 13 at Chaska – first pitch will be thrown at 7:30 p.m. After two non-league games, St. Peter travels to New Ulm for its first River Valley League West game against the Kaiserhoff, who rejoins Class C and the division after being removed midway through the 2011 season for violating the college ball player rule.

First home game on Veterans Field in St. Peter is May 30 against the Mankato Mets. On June 21-24, the Saints will compete in the Miller High Life Tournament hosted by Arlington and Gaylord for the second-straight year. RVL West Playoffs begin on Wednesday, July 25.

After reformatting the division last season, the RVL West returns to its original members with the addition of New Ulm. Arlington rejoins the division after playing in the RVL Central last year. Fairfax, Gaylord and Winthrop complete the six-team league.

2012 Schedule 

2012 Roster

Friday, June 1 at 1:00 p.m. – Shoreland Country Club, St. Peter, Minn.

Four-player team, 18-hole, shotgun-start scramble

$80 per person – includes full day of golf with pin prizes, two carts (per team), t-shirt, raffle prizes and a banquet at the American Legion following the tourney, complete with a Bar-B-Q meal and prize give-a-way

Players with their own carts will be charged $70

All proceeds will benefit the St. Peter Town Team and the continued improvement of Veterans Field. As an improvement priority, bullpens for both the home and visiting sides will be constructed

Register as an individual or as a team: Call or email CJ Siewert

csiewer3@gustavus.edu

(507) 779-4135 

Sponsor Opportunities

Home Run: $475 – Includes 1 team entry, free hole sponsorship with sign, free drink tickets on the course, 8 entries into prize raffle, 4 season tickets and free advertisement on the Town Team’s website ($650 value)

Triple: $425 – Includes 1 team entry, free hole sponsorship with sign, 4 entries into prize raffle, 4 season tickets and free advertisement on website ($550 value)

Double: $375 – Includes 1 team entry, free hole sponsorship with sign, 4 season tickets and free advertisement on website ($500 value)

Single: $100 – Includes hole sponsorship with sign, 4 season tickets and free advertisement on website ($200 value)

By CJ Siewert

A proposal made by Minnesota Baseball Association (MBA) Vice President Fred Roufs to add 16 teams to the 32-team Class C State Tournament passed at the MBA Board meeting on Nov. 19 in St. Cloud, Minn. In an effort to increase attendance at the fall classic, the Board reformatted the bracket to include 48 teams in a single-elimination playoff.

The top six leagues or regions that have maintained steady or above average attendance over the past decade will send an extra two teams to State. The next four leagues/regions will be awarded three teams – which includes Region 6, St. Peter’s current region – and two clubs will be sent from the remaining six sections.

The first of three weekends at the tourney will give the 16 regional champs a bye, while the remaining 32 teams each play one game. The second weekend will pit the winners of round one against the region champs. And the last weekend will consist of a possible four games to the title.

Player drafting has also been restructured. Each team will be allowed to draft three pitchers who will not be permitted to bat. Clubs can draft from any team in the region that does not make State after league play, regions or a combination of both.

Regions will be set for the 2012 season at the Region Alignment meeting in April. 

Full Story

By CJ Siewert

The Minnesota Baseball Association Board announced at its Oct. 15 meeting in St. Cloud the approval of the New Ulm Kaiserhoff’s request to rejoin the River Valley League West as a Class C team, effective the 2012 season. The League voted 9-to-6 in favor of the Kaiserhoff’s request. New Ulm was removed from Class C back to B last June after breaking the college ballplayer rule, prohibiting college players from joining C teams outside their radius.

Also receiving approval from the State Board to drop from B to C, effective this upcoming season, are the Jordan Brewers. The Board granted the RVL East member – a division previously comprised of all B teams – reclassification on a 7-to-2 vote. Jordan manager Jason Chalupsky was thoroughly questioned on the reasoning behind dropping a class after having so much success at the B level. He responded stating players were getting older and the organization feels its time to give local products a chance to play. Chalupsky added for the next three years, no player would be added to the roster unless a high school player or graduate of Jordan.

Although the Brewers manager acknowledged aging players as a motive to reclassify to C, he asked permission for his 2011 roster to be grandfathered in. The question is, though, how many grandfathered in players would remain on the roster that are not graduates of Jordan?

The Board also proposed the addition of 16 teams to the C tournament, which currently consists of 32 teams. With the intention of increasing attendance at the tourney, the added 16 teams would be granted to Leagues or Regions who’ve maintained steady or above average attendance over the past 10 years.

Board Minutes

In other news around the League…

Chanhassen manager Chris Reuvers has stepped down as the Redbirds skipper after two years with the team. He and his wife are expecting their first child the end of November. 

By CJ Siewert

The Isanti Redbirds defeated the Waconia Lakers – former members of the River Valley League Central division – Saturday, Sept. 3 by a mark of 11-5 in the final round of the winner’s bracket in the Minnesota Baseball Association Class C State Tournament, and again for the Class C title on Monday 4-3 in 13 innings.

Waconia held a 2-1 lead until Isanti scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a one-run lead. The Lakers responded immediately with a run in the top of the ninth and the game was sent to extras. It took four extra frames, but the Redbirds finally scored the winning run in the bottom of the 13th to claim the 4-3 victory and Class C crown. Isanti made its fourth trip to the fall classic this year earning its first championship in team history.

Whether the Redbirds won the title or the Lakers gave it away is anyone’s opinion, but Isanti favored from two fielding errors in the 13th inning to score the winning run. Patrick Lind reached on an error by the second baseman and a sacrifice moved him up to second base. An intentional walk to Kyle Johnson put runners on first and second, and yet another error – this time by the first baseman – scored Lind for the game-winner. Waconia committed five errors in the contest.

Chris Bullis took the complete-game loss for the Lakers, tossing 12 1/3 innings with eight hits, four runs (one earned), three walks and not a single strikeout.

The offseason has officially begun for all of Minnesota’s amateur baseball teams and your hometown St. Peter Saints have already started preparing for the 2012 season. Reports are swirling about three potential high-profile recruits that would bolster the STP lineup. Stay tuned…

By CJ Siewert

The Minnesota Baseball Association (MBA) Class ‘C’ State Tournament is approaching its final weekend of play with the final eight teams in place for the double-elimination portion of the tourney. Four teams remain undefeated while the other four are one loss away from elimination. And south-central Minnesota, including a former River Valley League club, is well represented in the remaining eight.

Former RVL Central member Waconia is among the final four undefeated teams after topping Pipestone, Prior Lake and New Prague. After losing 6-5 to Waconia last Sunday, New Prague will square off against another south-central Minnesota powerhouse, the Mankato Mets. The Mets lost to Big Lake after defeating Sleepy Eye and Bertha. The winner of New Prague/Mankato on Friday will face the loser of Isanti/Nisswa on Saturday.

The undefeated Waconia Lakers are set to face Big Lake Friday afternoon in Glencoe.

The final eight teams will duke it out over Labor Day weekend with the Class ‘C’ champion to be crowned on Monday in Brownton. Last season, Midway claimed the ‘C’ title over Moorhead. 

2011 State Tournament Website

By CJ Siewert

On the heels of its first State Tournament appearance since 1980, the St. Peter Town Team followed its 2010 State tourney run with a new crop of players, along with a solid veteran core, and defended its River Valley League West title before falling to Chanhassen and Fairfax in Region 6C Playoffs, ending the season.

The Saints finished with an 11-17 overall record – 9-8 against RVL ‘C’ teams, 7-4 in division play and 3-3 in playoffs. Their .393 win percentage seems lackluster but the Saints endured a 0-7 start to the season, adjusting to their new lineup before winning eight of the next 11 games. 

Against RVL West teams, STP handled two of its three division opponents earning regular season sweeps against Gaylord and Winthrop. The Saints also defeated both teams in the playoffs. They ended Winthrop’s season for the second consecutive year, which also increased their win streak to eight games over the Eagles, and erased a four-run, first inning deficit against Gaylord in the first game of playoffs for a 5-4 comeback victory.

The Fairfax Cardinals gave the Saints their most problems, though. Fairfax swept the Saints in the regular season, 10-runned them in the second round of division playoffs and ended their season with a 3-2, 11-inning loss in regional playoffs. Although, the local nine did earn bragging rights with a 6-5 victory at Memorial Park in the RVL West championship game.

It was a tough year at the plate for the Saints as they combined for a pedestrian .221 team batting average. Ryan Wenner led the team with a .278 average (32-115). The 10-year veteran shortstop also led the team in hits (32) and RBIs (15). Billy Hanson had a team-leading 20 runs and tied for the lead in stolen bases (7) with Matt Knutson and Nick Malz. Hanson also had the only triple on the year. Knutson collected a team-high six doubles along with the lone home run for the Saints. CJ Siewert led the team in both categories that don’t count for an at-bat with 20 walks and 12 sacrifices. And Dan Holz was a pitcher’s magnet with seven hit-by-pitches.

The stronghold for the St. Peter amateurs was the pitching staff, but 52 unearned runs overshadowed the team ERA of 3.06. Jordan Seebach was the ace of the staff with a 3-6 record in 10 starts and a 2.36 ERA. The Saints provided Seebach with poor run support in each of his starts (about 3 runs) accounting for the low record.

Jeremy Braun had a team-low 2.08 ERA with a 2-0 record in four starts. The left-hander also had a save with 44 strikeouts in 47 2/3 innings. Jesse Anderson led the team in strikeouts with 50 and Jeff Wenner was a great pickup for the staff with a 2.78 ERA in his first season on the mound. Wenner posted a team-low opponent’s batting average at .200 and WHIP at 1.26.

Looking forward the Saints seem to be in good shape with all of their starters in the fold for 2012. Five of their regular starters now have five years experience and three other regulars hold over 10 years of service – Ryan Wenner (10), Anderson (14) and Mike Enz (27).

Although inexperienced in comparison to the veterans, this season’s crop of rookies will help fill some gaps in the seasons to come. After seven years away from the game, 25-year-old first baseman Jeff Menk was a great addition in the field and at the plate. 2011 St. Peter High School graduates Jesse Munsterman and Seth Wenner also stepped in when called upon and will see elevated roles next season.

No matter how you slice it, the 2012 St. Peter Saints will be a better team with goals of a third consecutive RVL West title and a chance to reach the State Tournament.  

Final 2011 Stats

Photo: Ryan Wenner led the Saints in batting average (.278), hits (32) and RBIs (15).

By CJ Siewert

If there’s one thing you could say hurt the St. Peter Town Team most this season, it would have to be errors. And when the Saints committed five errors Sunday afternoon at Veterans Field in a Region 6C Playoff elimination game, the result was a 3-2, 11-inning loss to the Fairfax Cardinals.

Pitching was the least of St. Peter’s problems – as was the case most of the season – as the Saints’ three pitchers who made an appearance against the Cardinals did not allow an earned run. Jeremy Braun started and went eight innings allowing two runs (none earned) on seven hits with 10 strikeouts. The left-hander walked five and beamed one.

After Braun allowed a leadoff single in the ninth, Jordan Seebach came in relief and loaded the bases with no outs. But Seebach buckled down to retire the next three batters while leaving three base runners stranded.

Jesse Anderson tossed the 10th and 11th innings for the Saints giving up one unearned run, which proved to be the game-winner. A leadoff single backed by a walk put runners on first and second, and both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt. The following batter hit a grounder to third, which was mishandled allowing the go-ahead run to score.

Fairfax struck first in the third inning after a leadoff single, stolen base and an RBI-single for a 1-0 lead, but St. Peter answered in bottom of the frame with a run to tie the game. Billy Hanson led off with a single but was forced out on the base path as Mike Enz reached on a fielder’s choice. Enz gained second base on a botched pick-off attempt and was driven home on a single by Ryan Wenner.

The Cardinals took the lead in the seventh after the leadoff batter reached on an error, gained third on a one-out single and scored on a fielder’s choice. The Saints replied in the eighth, though, to tie the game at two. With two down, Jeff Menk hit a single and was lifted for Kevin Sandborg to pinch run. Jesse Munsterman followed with another single and Tony Vetter ensued with a walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter Seth Wenner worked the count full and reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Sandborg to score from third.

After Fairfax scored the go-ahead run in the 11th, the hometown nine had its opportunity to tie the game and send it to the 12th, but stranded the tying run at third with just one out in the home half. Enz led off with a walk and gained second on a sac bunt by Ryan Wenner. Enz advanced to third on a passed ball and CJ Siewert put runners on the corners with a walk. But the threat came to a sudden halt as Matt Knutson struck out and Siewert was caught stealing for a game-ending strike-him-out-throw-him-out double play.

For the second consecutive game Ryan Wenner led the Saints at the dish with two hits in five at-bats – he also had an RBI and a sacrifice. Munsterman also provided two hits in five at-bats, ending his postseason with a .450 batting average (9-20).

St. Peter ended its season with an 11-17 overall record – 7-4 in the River Valley League West and 3-3 in playoffs. The Saints also claimed their second consecutive RVL West title with a 6-5 victory over Fairfax on July 30. STP looks to remain a strong contender for another division title with all of its starters coming back next season and six of those starters under the age of 25. But until then, it’s a nine-month break. 

Box Score

St. Peter Herald article

Photo: Saints catcher Billy Hanson scoops out a one-hopper from Ryan Wenner in the 9th inning for a force-out at home.

By CJ Siewert

When the St. Peter amateur baseball club lost 2-1 to Chanhassen earlier this season it was a pitchers duel between St. Peter’s Jordan Seebach and Chanhassen’s Casey Malmgren. And Friday night’s Region 6C Playoff opener at Veterans Field pitted the same pitchers against each other, and through the first six innings it was once again a clash between the two on the hill. But in the seventh inning the wheels fell off for the Saints as they gave up six runs (four earned) on just three hits, walking two while committing two errors, which led to an 11-1 defeat.

The six-run seventh inning by the Red Birds broke a 1-1 tie as well as St. Peter’s chance to win the regional opener. Three more runs (two earned) were tacked on in the eighth off Saints reliever Jesse Anderson and yet another unearned run in the ninth off Kevin Sandborg. The local nine committed seven errors accounting for five unearned runs.

St. Peter’s lone run was scored in the third. Consecutive singles by Ryan Wenner and Billy Hanson set up CJ Siewert for a sacrifice bunt but the attempt went right back to the pitcher and Wenner was forced out at third. With Matt Knutson at the plate, Hanson stole third and the throw went down the left field line, allowing Hanson to score.

Malmgren went seven frames for the Red Birds not allowing an earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Seebach took the loss after six-and-one-third innings. He gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits with three strikeouts, a walk and a hit batsman.

Wenner paced the Saints at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance, and his cousin – rookie Seth Wenner – had two singles in four at-bats.

The Saints will host a familiar foe Sunday afternoon – the Fairfax Cardinals. Fairfax lost to Belle Plaine 7-0 Friday. St. Peter beat Fairfax 6-5 in the River Valley League West title game in Fairfax and the season will be on the line Sunday at 2:00 p.m. The winner will take on the loser of Belle Plaine/Chanhassen Friday night for the State Tournament play-in game and the loser’s season will be over.  

Box Score

St. Peter Herald article

Photo: Jordan Seebach pitches in the 1st inning against Chanhassen Friday night at Veterans Field with Ryan Wenner at short and CJ Siewert in left.

By CJ Siewert - updated 8/4

The 2011 Region 6C Playoffs are set to begin Friday night with three of the same four teams of the River Valley League from last season’s tournament – Belle Plaine, Chanhassen and St. Peter – and each earning the same seed. Fairfax has replaced Winthrop as the RVL West runner-up.

Although the same teams are familiar with the tournament from last year’s experience, the first round of regional-play will see unfamiliar matchups. St. Peter will host Chanhassen, two teams who have not seen each other in postseason play. And when Fairfax travels to Belle Plaine, it will mark the first time in over a decade (1999 is the last season archived online) the Cardinals and Tigers square off in the playoffs. 

What will be familiar between the teams, though, is that each regional matchup was also a contest during the regular season. Chanhassen escaped with a 2-1 win over St. Peter in a pitcher’s duel on June 29 at Storm/Red Bird Stadium and Belle Plaine won by the same score on June 28 against Fairfax at Tiger Park.

The back-and-forth pitching battle between St. Peter’s Jordan Seebach and Chanhassen’s Casey Malmgren ended in the Red Birds’ starter’s favor. Malmgren tossed a complete-game allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Seebach lasted six giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three strikeouts. 

Only three Saints offered a hit off the Red Birds – Billy Hanson (1-3), Jeff Menk (1-3, RBI) and CJ Siewert (2-3, R). Chan had seven different batters register its hits.

Through 28 games the Red Birds are led at the plate by John Gulden (.350, 21-60) [according to the Red Birds' website, Gulden is out for the season with a dislocated shoulder], Tony Marengo (.325, 13-40) and Cary McLaughlin (.288, 17-59). Their pitching staff consists of three regular starters – Malmgren (3-3, 4.00 ERA), Andrew Roy (3-1, 2.16 ERA) and Justin Thompson (3-4, 3.51 ERA).

Malmgren has been Chan’s No. 1 starter in playoffs with a 1-1 record. And it’s likely the Saints will face the second-year right-hander given his recent play and the outcome of the June 29 victory.

If Malmgren were to start the opening round regional game it’s likely it will be a rematch of the regular season starters. Seebach is in line to get the nod Friday night in light of his postseason performances. The Saints right-hander threw seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 shutout over Winthrop and picked up a two-and-two-thirds-inning save against Gaylord.

Expectedly, both St. Peter and Chanhassen should be at their best Friday night with a chance to reach the State Tournament play-in game on the line. 

Photo: Jordan Seebach has pitched 9 2/3 innings in 2 games this postseason with a win and a save.