NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

The NRHEG baseball team played four very good innings of baseball with a very good 9-2 Madelia squad Monday at Jeff and Carol Reese Field in New Richland. A final score of 11-1 does not accurately represent how the group played.

In the first inning, Madelia scored two runs due to timely hitting, a passed ball and some self-inflicted errors.

The Panthers cleaned things up from there, but were unable to score in the bottom of the first after loading the bases with no outs. Carter Martens lined one off the pitcher's glove, resulting in an out at the plate. The scoring threat was the biggest for the Panthers, whose lone run came when Jordan Brouwers scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the third. 

The arguable ace of the staff, freshman southpaw Jarod Lee, pitched three very good innings before getting into trouble in the fourth. He left with two runners on and nobody out. Martens, appearing in relief, pitched through the sixth inning, allowing five runs. Ryan Schlaak finished the game on the mound, pitching the seventh frame. He allowed two runs. 

Since it was a nonconference game with no significance for playoff seedings, Lee, was pulled in the fourth due to his pitch count. 

Registering hits in the contest were Devon Parpart (1-4), and A.J. Deen (2-3). The Panthers struck out 11 times, and committed three fielding errors. Lee pitched 3 innings, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned; Martens 3 innings, 5 runs, 3 earned and Schlaak 1 inning, 2 runs, both earned. 

The Panthers had five games this week, Monday, Tuesday against TCU, a doubleheader Thursday against Maple River and Friday at LCWM. It will be a test of their depth of arms as they try to find the arms necessary to field so many innings.

With the loss, the Panthers’ record fell to 4-8 overall, 2-4 in conference. On top of the Gopher standings this week is undefeated Kenyon-Wanamingo with six conference wins, 10-3 overall, followed by Hayfield 5-2 (8-5); Blooming Prairie 4-2 (5-5), Maple River 4-2 (6-4), Triton 4-2 (4-6), JWP 4-4 (8-6), Randolph 3-2 (4-6), USC 3-4 (4-8), NRHEG, WEM 1-6 (2-7), and Medford 0-8 (0-11).

The Panthers’ remaining regular season schedule appears as follows:

• FINAL SCHEDULED HOME GAMES, Thursday May 9, home doubleheader against Maple River beginning at 4:30 p.m. 

• Friday May 9 at LCWM

• Monday, May 13 at Medford

• Tuesday, May 14 at Kenyon-Wanamingo

• Thursday, May 16 at WEM

By ELI LUTGENS

Publisher/Editor

The NRHEG baseball team played four very good innings of baseball with a very good 9-2 Madelia squad Monday at Jeff and Carol Reese Field in New Richland. A final score of 11-1 does not accurately represent how the group played.

In the first inning, Madelia scored two runs due to timely hitting, a passed ball and some self-inflicted errors.

The Panthers cleaned things up from there, but were unable to score in the bottom of the first after loading the bases with no outs. Carter Martens lined one off the pitcher's glove, resulting in an out at the plate. The scoring threat was the biggest for the Panthers, whose lone run came when Jordan Brouwers scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the third. 

The arguable ace of the staff, freshman southpaw Jarod Lee, pitched three very good innings before getting into trouble in the fourth. He left with two runners on and nobody out. Martens, appearing in relief, pitched through the sixth inning, allowing five runs. Ryan Schlaak finished the game on the mound, pitching the seventh frame. He allowed two runs. 

Since it was a nonconference game with no significance for playoff seedings, Lee, was pulled in the fourth due to his pitch count. 

Registering hits in the contest were Devon Parpart (1-4), and A.J. Deen (2-3). The Panthers struck out 11 times, and committed three fielding errors. Lee pitched 3 innings, allowing 4 runs, 2 earned; Martens 3 innings, 5 runs, 3 earned and Schlaak 1 inning, 2 runs, both earned. 

The Panthers had five games this week, Monday, Tuesday against TCU, a doubleheader Thursday against Maple River and Friday at LCWM. It will be a test of their depth of arms as they try to find the arms necessary to field so many innings.

With the loss, the Panthers’ record fell to 4-8 overall, 2-4 in conference. On top of the Gopher standings this week is undefeated Kenyon-Wanamingo with six conference wins, 10-3 overall, followed by Hayfield 5-2 (8-5); Blooming Prairie 4-2 (5-5), Maple River 4-2 (6-4), Triton 4-2 (4-6), JWP 4-4 (8-6), Randolph 3-2 (4-6), USC 3-4 (4-8), NRHEG, WEM 1-6 (2-7), and Medford 0-8 (0-11).

The Panthers’ remaining regular season schedule appears as follows:

• FINAL SCHEDULED HOME GAMES, Thursday May 9, home doubleheader against Maple River beginning at 4:30 p.m. 

• Friday May 9 at LCWM

• Monday, May 13 at Medford

• Tuesday, May 14 at Kenyon-Wanamingo

• Thursday, May 16 at WEM

 

By JIM LUTGENS

Sports Editor

It didn't start out so well for the NRHEG softball team at JWP Monday.

But it ended great.

The Panthers trailed 4-0 after two innings, but they plated three runs in the third, seven in the fourth and five in the fifth en route to a 16-8 Gopher Conference victory.

"Coming off a tournament this past weekend, we knew we had to bring a lot of energy in this game right from the start," said NRHEG coach Kaylie Camerer. "We did right away on the on both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball."

Olivia Berg led the Panthers' 12-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs. Isabel Stadheim went 2-for-3 with two runs, Faith Nielsen 2-for-4 with four RBIs, Izley Boerner 2-for-5 with two RBIs, Tayler Schmidt 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Addie Stadheim also hit safely. Isabel Stadheim stole three bases. Preslie Nielsen drove in two runs, scored twice and walked twice.

Faith Nielsen went the distance in the circle for the Panthers, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits, with five strikeouts and four walks.

"Faith pitched a great consistent game and our defense stepped up behind her," said Camerer. "We made great heads-up plays all game and Payton Bunn had a great diving catch in the outfield. At the plate we needed to stay aggressive and we had two big innings where we stayed disciplined at the plate, when we put the ball in play we made their defensive work, and we took advantage of their mistakes while on the basepaths."

It was, according to Camerer, one of the Panthers' best complete games this season.

"We will look to keep the same energy for the remainder of the season," said the coach. 

The Panthers hosted Hayfield Thursday, April 25.

The visitors made themselves right at home.

The Vikings overcame a 4-2 first-inning deficit to defeat the Panthers 17-5 in five innings.

"Hayfield is a good hitting team and did a good job finding the gaps in our defense and hitting them," said Camerer. "Our bats are starting to come alive the deeper we get into the season, but tonight was just not our night. Coming back this week we need to focus on staying mentally tough within the flow of the game."

The Panthers totaled seven hits against Hayfield, two by Erin Peterson and one each from Isabel Stadheim, Berg, Faith Nielsen, Addie Stadheim and Schmidt. Addie Stadheim tripled. Faith Nielsen was the lone NRHEG player to drive in a run. NRHEG struck out four times and drew one walk. Each team had four errors.

Nielsen started in the circle and took the pitching loss. She gave up six earned runs on eight through three innings, fanning five and walking five while surrendering two home runs. Boerner pitched the final two innings.

The Panthers played three games in a tournament at Caswell Park in Mankato on Saturday. They sandwiched a victory over New London-Spicer between losses to Cleveland and Madelia.

Cleveland handed the Panthers an 8-1 loss in game one, when NRHEG stranded 11 baserunners.

Faith Nielsen had two hits and one RBI, with one hit apiece by Preslie Nielsen, Addie Stadheim, Chloe Stork and Schmidt. Faith Nielsen, who doubled, pitched the first five innings and took the loss.

Against NLS, the Panthers plated three runs in the first and one in the second and held on for a 4-2 triumph.

Isabel Stadheim and Berg had two hits each, Preslie Nielsen, Boerner and Peterson one each. Faith Nielsen drove in two runs. Berg and Preslie Nielsen doubled.

Boerner pitched seven innings for the win, finishing with five strikeouts and three walks.

The Panthers were shut out by Madelia 5-0. Faith Nielsen had two hits, Stenzel one. Faith Nielsen and Peterson pitched.

"After getting rained out Friday night, we pushed one game for a total of three on Saturday," said Camerer. "Defensively, all tournament we were making great plays and little mental errors. We moved people around and asked players to step into the positions they have not yet played this season. I thought the girls handled those changeups well. Offensively, we are making solid contact with the ball throughout the game. We just need to find a way to string hits together down the lineup and keep momentum on our side from inning to inning. Overall, we improved and gained experience from the weekend that will help in the last half of the season."

After playing at Blue Earth Area Tuesday, the Panthers host Kenyon-Wanamingo Thursday, May 2. They entertain USC Tuesday, May 7.

By JIM LUTGENS

Sports Editor

According to NRHEG baseball coach Shawn Larson, it was defense that set the tone in Monday's home game against JWP.

Everything else fell into place.

The Panthers played one of their best all-around games of the season while winning 9-2 at Jeff and Carol Reese Field.

"This was one of those games where almost everything goes the way it should," said Larson. "It started with the defense, and we just seemed to flow into the offense as well."

Sophomore Deven Parpart pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked three.

Alden Dobberstein had another great day at the plate, starting with a first-inning RBI and finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Sophomore Wyatt Larson and freshman Brooks Gilliland also had good showings. They were each 2-for-3.

The late innings proved to be the difference at Hayfield last Thursday.

The Panthers led 2-1 and it was 2-2 after four innings, but the Vikings put it out of reach with a pair of runs in the fifth and sixth.

"This was a good back-and-forth game today," said Coach Larson, whose team stranded just three baserunners but had some blunders on the base paths.

"We made several mistakes on the bases today," said the coach "That most likely was the biggest indicator of why we lost today. Hopefully, we keep making improvements in our awareness of in-game situations. If we can make those improvements along with striking out less, we have a chance in most games. Jace Ihrke continued to hit well with two hits in the game. Jordan Brouwers also had two hits."

Parpart was 2-for-3 with a run. Dobberstein had one hit, a double. Brouwers also doubled. RBIs went to Ihrke and Carter Martens.

The Panthers drew two walks and struck out nine times. They had four fielding errors, Hayfield two.

Freshman left-hander Jared Lee started on the mound for the Panthers and pitched four innings, allowing one earned run on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. Martens went the next two innings and took the loss, giving up three earned runs on two hits. He fanned three and walked four.

The Panthers are in action Thursday, May 2 at Kenyon-Wanamingo.