Winthrop Does It to Tigers Again

7/26/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Winthrop	0	1	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	5	10	1
Belle Plaine	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	10	0

Dan Weldon was tagged out at home while attempting to score the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, ending the Tigers’ season and giving the Winthrop Eagles a 5-4 victory. With the bases loaded, two outs, and a 5-3 Winthrop lead, Pat Schultz hit a ground ball to first that was booted by Chris Fahey. Tim Schuster scored from third and Weldon, who began the play at second, was not far behind. But Fahey gathered himself and threw a perfect strike home to nab Weldon, on what was a close call at the plate.

In a case study in frustration, Winthrop beat the Tigers in the playoffs for the third consecutive year, while over that time the Tigers are 5-0 against the Eagles during the regular season. In those five victories, Belle Plaine has outscored Winthrop 52-13. However, during the playoffs, the Eagles have gone 3-0 and spanked the Tigers by a combined margin of 30-11.

Winthrop entered the game as the fourth seed in the CCL-White playoffs at 4-13, and 6-21 overall. Of course, Winthrop also went 4-18 in league play two years ago, before catching fire and taking it all the way to the second round of the 2003 state tournament.

Dave Kreft started on the mound, taking his second loss of the playoffs after entering with a 5-1 mark. The veteran righty went seven innings officially, but it was the first batter of the eighth – pitcher Scott Palmer – who took him yard to give Winthrop what proved to be the decisive run.

Palmer threw the complete game, yielding ten hits and four walks while striking out seven. He recorded his biggest punch-out of the ninth when with runners on second and third and one out, he won the battle with his counterpart, Kreft.

Weldon was the hitting ace for Team Tigertown, lacing a two-run homer in the third to make it 2-2, and stroking a one-out double in the ninth to give Belle Plaine a golden opportunity to tie it up again.

Both teams played well defensively – the only error being Fahey’s boot on the last play of the ninth.

HOFMANN, SCHULTZ DRAFTED:

Brownton, who knocked off the Tigers 4-3 in the first round, won the CCL-White Championship by beating #1 seed St. Peter twice – 5-4 in the semi-finals, and 15-1 in the championship game. (See bracket for full details.) Brownton selected Pat Schultz of Belle Plaine, and Scott Palmer of Winthrop, while St. Peter countered with Shane Hofmann of Tigeritaville, and Randy Walsh of Gaylord. Congratulations to Pat and Shane, and good luck!

REGION 4C ACTION IN BELLE PLAINE:

Unfortunately, Team Tigertown will not be taking part in the festivities at Tiger Park, but Region 4C action will commence this Saturday and Sunday (Aug. 6 & 7), with games at 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm each day. Brownton and Minnesota Lake, the #2 seed from the 13-60 League, will play Saturday’s first game, followed by St. Peter and the 13-60’s #1 seed, the defending Class ‘C’ champion Blue Earth Pirates.

The two state tournament representatives from Region 4C will be determined the following Saturday (Aug. 13) in Belle Plaine, with one potential seeding game played Sunday, if necessary.

2005 TIGER OPEN

The 2005 Tiger Open will be held Saturday, September 17 th at Valley View Golf Club, with a 1:00 pm shotgun start. The format is a four-person, 18-hole scramble, so start assembling your team today. We are still determining the cost, but looking to lower it from last year’s rate to encourage greater participation. Look for details soon in an upcoming Herald.

2005 SEASON-IN-REVIEW:

Team Tigertown finished with a 9-8 record in the Carver Central, good for 2 nd place in the White Division, while posting an overall record of 15-20. The Tigers scheduled aggressively by facing a stellar non-league schedule, and paid for it by winning only two of their first eleven ballgames. From that point on, however, the Tigers played winning baseball, going 13-11 (.542) the rest of the way.

Belle Plaine enjoyed participating in the Tigertown Classic, and really made hay the following weekend, winning three games in two days to claim the Consolation Championship of the 16-team Miller Lite Invitational (held in Arlington and Green Isle).

Individually, Pat Schultz took home the batting title with a .351 batting average, this after hitting .353 and .358 the previous two campaigns. (Pat – you’re starting to fall off.) Schultz edged out Dan Weldon (.338) and Mike Dhaene (.336), who both came on strong in the second half.

Dave Kreft led the team with five wins, and posted the best ERA among starters at 2.31. Among relievers, Ryan Witt and Brett Kruschke didn’t allow an earned run all year, although Witt’s 21.2 innings stack up a bit more impressively than Kruschke’s 1.0. (These are the numbers – I just report ‘em.)

Thanks to everyone who supported the Tigers this year, and we’ll see you again next spring!

Belle Plaine TIGERS (15-20)
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	Avg.
Weldon, cf	5	1	2	2	0	.338
Kreft, p-3b	4	0	0	0	1	.194
Dhaene, ss	3	0	1	0	2	.336
P. Schultz, c	4	1	1	0	1	.353
Huber, 2b-lf	4	0	1	0	0	.299
Zellmann, 1b	4	0	2	0	0	.246
Hartmann, dh	4	0	1	0	0	.167
S. Hofmann, rf	0	0	0	0	0	.179
Kruschke, pr	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Schuneman, lf	3	1	2	0	0	.222
Witt, p	1	0	0	0	0	.19
A. Hoffman, 3b-2b	3	0	0	0	0	.189
Schuster, ph	0	1	0	0	1	.260
TOTALS	35	4	10	2	5	.286
2B – Weldon. 3B – none. HR – Weldon.
HBP – none. SB –P.Schultz.
Pitcher	IP	H	R/ER	BB/K	NP	ERA
Kreft (L, 5-3)	7.0	8	5/5	4/4	126	2.31
Witt	2.0	2	0/0	0/1	28	0.00

Tigers Take the Hard Road

Brownton Sends Tigers to Loser’s Bracket (--by Brett Kruschke)

Last year, the Tigers entered the playoffs with a 2-0 regular season record against their first opponent, Winthrop, before getting clobbered at home and dispatched to the loser’s bracket. This year, the Tigers opened at home with a 2-0 regular season mark against Brownton and – you guessed it – got bumped to the loser’s bracket with a 4-3 loss on Friday.

Last year, the Tigers followed up their opening defeat with a surreal loss to Waconia, ending the season; this year, the Tigers have so far taken the first of three necessary steps to advance, beating Gaylord 13-3 on Sunday. Last night, the Tigers hosted Winthrop; if you need a score before next week’s paper, go to www.bptigertown.com.

With the double-elimination format, the Tigers needed a win last night and again on Thursday, or the season is kaput. If the Tigers prevailed last night, they will play at St. Peter or at Brownton on Thursday (7:30 pm) for the right to advance to the Region 4C playoffs, beginning August 6 th in Belle Plaine. First however, a seeding game would take place this Saturday for the CCL-White championship; if Belle Plaine is participating, that too will be on the road, at either St. Peter or Brownton. Game time is 2:00 pm. Please refer to the attached bracket, or the team website, for full details.

Brownton 4 @ Tigers 3 (Friday, July 22)

7/22/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brownton	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	4	8	0
Belle Plaine	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	6	3

As mentioned earlier, the Tiger Train beat the Bruins twice this season, by scores of 9-3 and 11-6. That and a dollar seventy-five will get you a cup of coffee, as the Tigers knew too well.

The hometown team had the man they wanted on the hill in Dave Kreft, he of the 5-1 record and airtight 1.77 ERA. However, the game’s first hitter, Jake Maurer, drew a free pass, and came around to score on a two-out throwing error. It was one of five walks Kreft would issue, although his bottom line of two earned runs in seven innings was still very solid.

The Tigers knotted things up in the second when Dan Weldon doubled, and Scotty “Too Hottie” Schaffler singled him in. Things remained tied at one until Ryan Hansch led off the sixth with a circuit blast, and an RBI single by 9-hitter Bryant Norby made it 3-1 for the Bruins after five and a half.

Tigertown restored the roar in the bottom of the frame, tying it up on a two-run single by Pat Schultz, after Kreft and “The Dhaen Train” – Mike Dhaene – opened the inning with base hits. Schultz was sacrificed to second, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning.

The seventh was the death knell for the Tigers. A botched fly ball put the leadoff runner on, and it would soon hurt as a needless two-out throwing error allowed the eventual winning-run to score, making it 4-3 Brownton.

The Tigers still had nine outs to mount a rally, but went 1-2-3 in the seventh and eighth. In the ninth, Schaffler was beaned and with two outs, Zip Zellmann worked a walk after a long at-bat, to put runners at first and second. A base hit could tie it, but a pop-out ended it, sending Belle Plaine to the ill-fated left-side of the playoff bracket.

Bruins’ chucker Nick Heller had a solid outing, going the distance while striking out nine with only one walk. He allowed only six hits.

Belle Plaine TIGERS (14-19)
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	Avg.
Huber, lf	4	0	1	0	0	.288
Kreft, p-3b	4	0	1	0	0	.188
Kruschke, pr	0	1	0	0	0	.000
Dhaene, ss	4	1	1	0	0	.333
P. Schultz, c	4	0	1	2	0	.351
Weldon, cf	3	1	1	0	0	.318
Schaffler, 1b	3	0	1	1	0	.297
Schuneman, pr	0	0	0	0	0	.196
Witt, rf	3	0	0	0	0	.183
Hartmann, ph	1	0	0	0	0	.152
Zellmann, dh	3	0	0	0	1	.212
J. Schulz, 3b	0	0	0	0	0	.250
S. Hofmann, rf	0	0	0	0	0	.179
M. Schultz, pr	0	0	0	0	0	.000
A. Hoffman, 2b	3	0	0	0	0	.213
TOTALS	32	3	6	3	1	.188
2B – Huber, Weldon. 3B – none. HR – none.
HBP – Schaffler, A.Hoffman. SB – Dhaene.
Pitcher	IP	H	R/ER	BB/K	NP	ERA
Kreft (L, 5-2)	7	7	4/2	5/4	120	1.86
Witt	2	1	0/0	2/1	35	0.00

 

Tigers 13 @ Gaylord 3 (Sunday, July 24 – 8 innings)

7/24/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
Belle Plaine	2	0	0	1	1	4	0	5	13	19	1
Gaylord	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	3	9	3

Gaylord finished 3-14 and in last place in the CCL-White, but one of those three was a 6-5 win over the Tigers just two weeks ago, so Belle Plaine was taking nothing for granted on this hot afternoon.

Then, there was no roof on the visiting dugout, and the Tigers finished with a paltry three hits. On this day, the Schultz Roofing Co. of Belle Plaine strapped a tarp to the still-agape dugout, and the Tigers finished with 19 hits. That’s one high-quality tarp.

Shane Hofmann wasn’t sure if he should start in centerfield or at shortstop, so settled for the pitcher’s mound, and held a 2-1 lead after three. The Tigers added single runs in the fourth and fifth, while the Islanders nabbed one back in the fifth to make it 4-2. From that point on though, it was all Tigers.

The Big Grr batted ten in the sixth, scoring four times. After a quiet seventh, they batted ten again, plating five runs to make it 13-3. A quick Mike Schultz-inning in the eighth ended the game via the ten-run rule.

The Tigers lashed out 19 bleeders on the day, as every starter except one had a hit. Dan Weldon, Dan Huber, and Scott Schaffler collected three rips each on the day. Huber drove in four runs for the second time in less than two weeks, out of his beloved five-hole.

Judging by pictures and conversation after the ballgame, it appeared to be the end for a lot of Gaylord veterans, including Dan “Hambone” Hamann, who will be missed.

Belle Plaine TIGERS (15-19)
	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	Avg.
Weldon, cf	6	1	3	1	0	.333
Kreft, 3b	4	2	2	1	1	.206
Dhaene, ss	5	2	2	1	1	.336
P. Schultz, c	4	2	2	2	1	.356
Huber, dh	5	1	3	4	0	.300
S. Hofmann, p	0	0	0	0	0	.179
M. Schultz, p	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Schaffler, 1b	4	1	3	1	0	.342
Hartmann, rf	5	1	1	0	0	.158
Schuster, lf	4	0	1	1	0	.260
Zellmann, ph	1	1	1	0	0	.226
Hoffman, 2b	3	1	0	0	1	.200
Witt, ph	1	1	1	1	0	.192
TOTALS	42	13	19	12	4	.452
2B – P.Schultz. 3B – none. HR – none.
HBP –Kreft, Schaffler. SB –Weldon, P.Schultz, Huber.
Pitcher	IP	H	R/ER	BB/K	NP	ERA
S. Hofmann (W, 2-4)	7	9	3/3	0/4	93	4.29
M. Schultz	1	0	0/0	0/0	9	4.93

It All Starts Tonight

Tigers Host Brownton in 1st RD of CCL White Playoffs (--by Nick Kornder)

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Well summer has flown by quicker than Al Bundy and that special time has arrived - Amateur Baseball Playoffs. El Tigre finished 1/2 game out of first place in the CCL White Division and missed out on a first round bye, but don't thing that will keep the boys in blue (or red or gray) from entertaining the hundreds of fans that have already purchased tickets to tonight's game.

The Tigers host Brownton tonight, a team they already have beaten twice this season by the scores of 9-3 and 11-6, but if you ask any coach, one of the toughest tasks in all of sports is to take the trifecta from one team in a season. Brownton comes in with a 5-12 record in the CCL White, good enough to place them third ahead of Winthrop (4-13) and Gaylord (3-14). Those two teams square off in Winthrop tonight at 7:30 p.m. as well. The winner of that game will go on to face St. Peter on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The Tigers, if they win, will await the winner of the St. Peter game in a match-up on Tuesday, July 26th. If they happen to fall, they will take on the loser of the Winthrop Gaylord game on Sunday.

 

Dan "The Man"

Huber Helps Tiger's Get Back on Track (--by Brett Kruschke)

And Boom Goes the Dynamite

Tigers Implode vs. Gaylord, St. Peter (--by Brett Kruschke)

Team Tigertown topped Brownton and Arlington in convincing fashion, followed by their two worst games of the year – losing back-to-back against Gaylord and St. Peter. The 20-5 trouncing at the hands of the Saints means St. Peter will be the #1 seed in the CCL-White playoffs, while the Tigers will be #2, opening up at home on Friday, July 22 nd against either Brownton or Winthrop. Game time will be 7:30 pm.

Last night, the locals traveled to Winthrop; check www.bptigertown.com for results, or wait for next week’s Herald.

Thursday the El Tigre Train rolls to Mankato, to battle the Twins, in a non-league tune-up. 7:30 pm first pitch. On Sunday, the Tigers are sure to sweat profusely as they face the Braves in Le Sueur (2:00 pm), wrapping up the regular season. Note: If the BBQ coin has not been found by game time, Zip Zellmann will begin releasing clues, every hour on the hour, until it is found.

As mentioned, the CCL-White playoffs will begin on Friday, July 22 nd; the division consists of #1 seed St. Peter, # 2 seed Belle Plaine, #5 seed Gaylord, and Brownton and Winthrop, who will be the #3 and #4 seeds (still to be determined). The top two teams will advance to Region 4C play, beginning August 6 th, in Belle Plaine, who will be the single site host for this year’s Region 4C playoffs. Full details, including the CCL-White playoff bracket, will be in next week’s paper.

Brownton 6 @ Tigers 11 (Tuesday, July 5th)

7/5/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brownton	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	6	11	4
Belle Plaine	3	0	0	1	3	4	0	0	X	11	10	2

Shane Hofmann returned to the mound for the first time since hearing his elbow pop on May 20 in St. Francis. He was greeted rudely by the Bruins, who took advantage of a two-out error to post five consecutive singles and take a 3-0 first inning lead.

The Pride of the Borough stormed back with three of their own, and things were underway. Hofmann was on a short pitch count, so left after three for the man with the fire in his belly, Dan Huber. Belle Plaine scored one in the fourth and three in the fifth, highlighted by a stand-up triple (sic) by the big Clydesdale himself, Zip Zellmann. We can only assume the ball got caught in the vines!

Brownton scored thrice in the sixth, but again the Express answered immediately, plating four. Dave Feldt, serving as emergency catcher thanks to Pat Schultz’s absence and Nate Hartmann’s still-casted foot, poked his second RBI single in as many innings for the final two runs. Feldt’s gutty effort behind the dish reminded of Gabby Hartnett – back when the men were men, and the women were, too.

Ryan Witt slammed the door with two scoreless stanzas, striking out four.

Arlington 2 @ Tigers 9 (Friday, July 8th)

7/8/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Arlington	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	6	2
Belle Plaine	1	0	1	0	2	0	1	4	X	9	12	1

In the “Battle for the Red Helmet,” the Tigers sent their ace Dave Kreft to the hill, to face his former mates. To quote Hannibal Lechter, “I’m having an old friend for dinner.”

Kreft came out throwing about 30 miles an hour, and was touched for a run in the first. However, he soon adjusted and before you know it, was leaving with two outs in the seventh, ahead 4-2.

The game was very much in peril, as the bases were full. In came Mike Schultz, who promptly hit his first batter to force in a run. Cleanup hitter Scott Dose then lined the snot out of one, but right at Kreft – who had moved to third – to end the inning.

Pat Schultz finished off a 4-for-4 night with a booming RBI triple in the seventh, making it 5-2. For Schultz, it was his seventh consecutive hit and ninth in his last ten official at-bats. It also raised his average to .407, ending any speculation of Feldt permanently stealing the starting catcher’s gig.

Pat Schultz is on fire

The Tigers proceeded to add four in the eighth, thanks in part to yet another triple, this time from Dan Huber, plating two. Huber went 3-for-5 on the evening.

Ryan Witt no longer had a save situation, but struck out the side in the ninth anyways, giving him six straight strikeouts over two games. On the year, Witt has not allowed an earned run in 16.2 innings pitched.

It was a good crowd for Fan Appreciation Night, and many people went home with something, if not heartburn. The big winners were Vern Nyblom of Belle Plaine and Allen Van Buskirk of Henderson, who both won 2006 season tickets; and youngster Mitchell Heibel of Arlington, who won a Tiger autographed baseball.

Tigers 5 @ Gaylord 6 (Sunday, July 10th)

7/10/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Belle Plaine	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	3	0	5	3	2
Gaylord	1	1	0	2	2	0	0	0	X	6	13	5

Do not be deceived by the final score – this was a whooping by the Gaylord Islanders, who entered with a 2-15 record in the CCL, and an 11-game losing streak. The first tip of the cap must go to Gaylord’s Randy Walsh, who went the distance, allowing five unearned runs and just three hits, with no walks.

Shane Hofmann was making his second start back from arm trouble, and was hit early and often. Upon leaving midway through the 5 th, Hofmann was battered like a piece of cod, surrending twelve hits and six runs (four earned).

Jonny Schulz entered with the bases loaded, and kept the Tigers in the game at 6-2 by striking out both men he faced. Jonny Appleseed would also post goose eggs over the final three innings, capping a sweet day on the hill for the young right-hander.

It was odd to think back to snowflakes in New Germany earlier this season, to sitting in the sweltering afternoon heat in the roofless Gaylord dugout. That’s right – last week’s storm took the roof off the visitors dugout! And there were hornets, too. Otherwise, it was a lot of fun.

The Tigers took advantage of not one, not two, but three errors by the Gaylord shortstop in the eighth inning, adding three runs without a hit, to make it 6-5. However, in the ninth Walsh finished what he started, setting the Tigers down 1-2-3.

St. Peter 20 @ Tigers 5 (Monday, July 11 th, 8 innings)

7/10/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
St. Peter	1	0	5	0	3	0	2	9	20	17	0
Belle Plaine	0	1	2	0	0	1	0	1	5	7	10

I’m not sure I could over-exaggerate how bad of a game the Tigers played, and there were too many witnesses for me to lie to you. In what began as a clash of the top two teams in the CCL-White, quickly turned into the most wretched team performance this reporter has ever witnessed. I’m sorry, but it was that bad, and it was embarrassing.

Belle Plaine stunk in all three primary facets of the game – offense, defense, and special teams. The Tigers posted an amazing ten errors over this eight-inning circus, and everyone had a hand in it. Players could be seen diving and flopping all over the field, from start to finish.

The pitching was just as rotten – allowing 17 hits and six walks, falling behind in the count all night, while poor Pat Schultz (the Tiger catcher) had to squat for 194 pitches. Again, that’s over eight innings.

Offensively, the Tigers drew seven walks and as many hits, with the lone extra-base hit being Dan Weldon’s two-run homer off the football press box in the third inning. The hometown team trailed 6-3 at that point, but that was as close as it would get.

Belle Plaine fans thought they had seen it all when the Saints led 11-4 after seven, but that’s when the wheels really came off and nine more runs came across in the eighth, each pitch like the painful prick of a Tiger cupie doll. I know I’ll never see another game like this, because it’s not possible.

 

Down Goes Brownton
Tigers Win 11-6 (by Nick Kornder)

7/5/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brownton	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	6	11	4
Belle Plaine	3	0	0	1	3	4	0	0	X	11	10	2

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Team TigerTown won their CCL White division game over Brownton 11-6 on Tuesday night at Tiger Park. Shane Hoffman made his return to the mound and went three innings. Dan Huber (2-2) came in the next four innings before Ryan Witt took the last two.

Tigers Conclude Busy, Winning Month

Post 8-7 Record in June (--by Brett Kruschke)

The local nine stormed past league-mate Brownton 9-3 last Tuesday, before losing to St. Patrick 7-4 on Thursday, June 30th. In Carver Central play, the Tigers have crept to 5-6, but remain in second place behind St. Peter. Overall, the borough city kitties are 10-15.

To paraphrase Lou Brown, “10-15 is hardly a great record.” But look inside the numbers, and Belle Plaine posted a winning month at 8-7, after only a 2-8 mark through May. To quote Lou again, “It’s startin’ to come together, Pepper!” (And one more time, just for fun: “We’re out of towels, and I’m too old to be diving into lockers.”)

El Tigre faced Browton again last night, at home. Details should be on the web at www.bptigertown.com, or wait for next week’s Herald. This Friday night, July8 th, is “Fan Appreciation Night” versus Arlington – game time, 7:30 pm. There will be drawings for giveaways, including state tournament apparel from last year, and season tickets for 2006! The mood should be festive out at Tiger Park.

Sunday, Belle Plaine will visit Gaylord for a 2:00 pm war on the shore. Meanwhile, Monday against St. Peter will be the final promotion of the 2005 campaign at Tiger Park – “$1-Foul Ball Night” for kids 12 and under. Kids, wear your Little League shirts if you have ‘em, would ya?! That’s the spirit! Who needs a summer job, when you can chase foul balls for a buck apiece.

And oh by the way – the Tigers host St. Peter in a game that could likely determine first place, and a first-round bye, in the CCL-White. Start time is 7:30 pm – please note this is a makeup date from an earlier rainout. It is also the last regular season home game.

On Tuesday, the Tiger Train will play their fourth game in five days – a 7:30 pm affair at Winthrop.

Tigers 9 @ Brownton 3 (Tuesday, June 28)

Belle Plaine ventured through Bongards and on to Brownton, confident in having “The Milk Carton Brothers” – Dave Kreft and Dan Weldon – for the first time in nearly two weeks. The Tigers weathered the storm surprisingly well, going 5-2 in their absence. Still, they both somehow found their way back into the lineup for this CCL-White showcase showdown.

The boys from the beautiful prairie started out early with two in the first, while Brownton answered with one. The difference was the Tigers kept pouring it on: scoring two in the third and three in the fourth, for a 7-1 lead after four.

On the mound, Dave Kreft kept the Bruins at bay, departing with a 7-3 lead after seven. The “Kreft-O-Matic Adjustable” scattered nine hits, while fanning an impressive eight Bruin strikers. (That’s right – I said strikers.)

Weldon gave the Tigers a little more breathing room in the eighth, stroking a two-run, two-out single, making it 9-3. The insurance runs proved unnecessary, as the new “Everyday Eddie” of the Carver Central – Ryan Witt – worked a scoreless eighth and ninth, with three K’s. In 13.2 innings this year, Witt’s ERA is still perfect – 0.00.

Offensively, the Tigers had two hitting studs: Dan Huber and Mike Dhaene, both of whom went 4-for-6. Huber scored four runs, batting a spot ahead of Dhaene, the three-hitter.

The striped ones were aggressive, swiping four bases, including two by Pat “I still need a nickname” Schultz. Defensively, Brownton booted six balls, while the Tigers committed nary an error.

St. Patrick 7 @ Tigers 4 (Thursday, June 30)

Ho-hum – another Tiger non-league game, another 2004 state tournament foe to battle. Mike Schultz would take his chances on the mound, and why not – he just might be the luckiest son-of-a-gun in town.

Schultz allowed two first-inning runs, but Team Tigertown roared back with three in the third for a 3-2 lead, thanks to a two-RBI, two-out single by Jonny “Pitching Wedge” Schulz. In the fifth, the Irish scored a pair of unearned runs thanks to two Tiger errors; and in the sixth, the St. Patrick Danicas nabbed three more to take control, 7-3.

Team Tigre loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, but a double play killed the rally and the locals could tally only one, making it a 7-4 final. Pat Schultz was locked in all night, going 3-for-3 with a walk, while Jonny Schulz and Zip Zellmann had two hits apiece.

We always like to point out rookie highlights – Peter Schuneman earned the sombrero, striking out three times in a row. I guess that would be a “pure” sombrero, kind of like a pure hat trick in hockey – congratulations, Peter!

Tigers Playing Better

Have Won 5 of the Last 7 (--by Brett Kruschke)

The pride of TigerTown went 2-2 in the Carver Central over the last week, bringing their record to 4-6 in league play, and 9-14 overall. The Tigers have won five of their last seven after starting the season a rugged 2-9.

Belle Plaine lost a heartbreaker to first-place St. Peter last Tuesday, 6-5, when the Saints scored two in the eighth to steal the game. On Thursday, Team Tigertown downed Gaylord 6-4; on Sunday, the locals rallied for five in the ninth to beat Carver 9-5, while losing that same evening at Jordan, 5-2.

Last night, the locals traveled to Brownton; check www.bptigertown.com or next week’s Herald for results. Tomorrow night (Thursday), El Tigre welcomes St. Patrick for a 7:30 pm duel. After taking some time off over the holiday, Belle Plaine will face Brownton again, this time at home, 7:30 pm on Tuesday, July 5 th.

BP 5 @ St. Peter 6 (Tuesday, June 21 st)

The Tigers were ready to get back to league action after seven consecutive non-league games, spanning two tournaments. The St. Peter Saints entered at 4-4 in the five-team CCL-White – good enough for first place and a one-game lead over the second-place Tigers (2-4).

El Tigre scored 24 runs over their previous two contests, and came in winners of three straight. That run-scoring deluge continued when the Tigers jumped on Saints starter Jeff Gilbertson for three in the first, including five hits and back-to-back RBI doubles by Pat Schultz and Ryan Witt.

After four games on the three-day weekend, manager Shane Hofmann turned to one of the Tigers all-time pitching greats, Zip Zellmann. It was the tall lefty’s first start of the year.

Mike Dhaene delivered a run-scoring single in the fourth to make it 5-3 Tigers, already his third hit of the game at that juncture. From there on, both pitchers tightened up and the song remained the same until St. Peter scratched for an unearned run in the seventh, making it 5-4.

Zellmann started the eighth, but was gone after its first batter, a full count walk to slugger Mike Newman. The “tangy Zip of Miracle Whip” yielded only five hits, while striking out seven. “I’m throwin’ everything I’ve got at ‘em, skipper,” Zellmann said. To which ManagerHofmann replied, “Great game, Harris.”

On came “Super” Dave Feldt, who recorded the first out on a sacrifice bunt, runner moving to second. The next batter popped out to Feldt, and two were gone. The next batter grounded to third, where Ryan Witt fielded cleanly, but skipped the throw past first baseman Zellmann as the tying run scored, with the go-ahead run moving to second.

A base hit to left by eight-hitter Ryan Werner then made it 6-5, giving the Saints their first lead. Three outs later, the Tigers were forced to swallow the bitter pill of defeat.

Gaylord 4 @ BP 6 (Thursday, June 23)

The Tigers opened the scoring with four in the third inning, sending eight men to the plate against Islanders starter Brian Rodning. In the fourth, the Tigers tacked on two more, courtesy of a Dan Huber two-run blast. After predicting a homer in his previous 71 at-bats this year, it finally came true!

Tiger pitcher Mike Schultz took a 6-0 lead to the sixth, but would be forced to exit before the inning was out, thanks to a four-run Gaylord uprising. Ryan Witt came on in relief, and took it all the way home with 3.1 scoreless frames, garnering his second save.

Gaylord’s Dan “Hambone” Hamann came in relief and chucked 3.1 innings of scoreless ball, the equivalent of Wayne Terwilliger throwing a no-hitter in batting practice. We love you though, Hambone.

Shortstop Mike Dhaene collected three of the home team’s seven hits, his second three-hit effort in a row; he also stole two of the Tigers’ six bases on the night.

BP 9 @ Carver 5 (Sunday, June 26)

El Tigre had a road doubleheader on Sunday, playing Carver at 1:00 pm and Jordan at 6:00 pm. Perhaps we should have kept the T-Road Bus for another day, to assist us on this rare road trip. Nonetheless, off to Pocket Gopher Park the Tigers went.

Carver entered with an 0-12 record in CCL-play, and the Tigers were hoping not to be their first victim. With that information as a backdrop, the Black Sox carried a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning. Things looked bleak for Tigertown’s warriors.

Adam Hoffman opened the ninth by reaching on an error by shortstop Kevin Kimmes, an omen of things to come. He was sacrificed to second, and with first base open Pat Schultz collected his fourth hit of the day, a scorched single to right field to tie it up at five apiece.

Then the wheels came off for the Black Sox, as the Tigers scored four more runs without a hit the remainder of the way. That’s right – there were three walks, a hit batsman, and Carver’s seventh error of the game. As the Tigers had four miscues of their own, I don’t need to tell you this was an ugly one.

Ryan Witt was again the Tiger’s savior on the mound, working the final 2.1 innings to gain his first win in relief of Jonny Schulz. In 11.2 innings this year, he has yet to allow an earned run, and has walked only one batter.

BP 2 @ Jordan 5 (Sunday, June 26)

Not to beat a dead horse, but the Tigers have played short-handed quite a bit lately (and yes I do realize this is the official battle cry of most amateur-ball teams). Belle Plaine went into Larca Park without four starters: Dave Kreft, Dan Weldon, Ryan Witt, and the “All I do is get on base” #9-hitter, Nick Volek, not to mention the potent bat of Nate Hartmann, who’s been out for a while now with a cast on his foot. Throw in the fact that (self-proclaimed) ace Shane Hofmann hasn’t pitched since May 20 due to an arm injury, and you’re starting to get my drift.

This game had a weird overtone to it from the get-go, as the Tigers faced their centerfielder of the previous 14 years, Trace Selly, who swatted all five brush-back pitches into the air to complete an 0-for-5 evening. Delving deep into the boxscore, Tiger right-fielders Brad Connolly and Zip Zellmann combined to go only 0-for-4 on the night. Advantage, Tigers! (Just kidding, Sell!)

Team Tigertown struck first on a second-inning single by Scott Schaffler, as Dan Huber slid in just ahead of the tag at home plate.

Pitcher Dan Huber was finally touched for two in the fourth, sandwiched between a leadoff walk and an error in the outfield. That made it 2-1 Brewers, and they would stretch it to 5-1 in the fifth when third baseman Paul “Gilly” Buss atoned for an earlier error and stroked a three-run double.

Huber went on to close Jordan out over the final three innings, but the BP bats could only muster one more run – on an eighth-inning single by Tim Schuster – despite the fact that the Tigers out-hit the Brewers 11-10 on the day.

 

Back on Track
Tigers Hold on To Beat Gaylord 6-4 (by Nick Kornder)

6/23/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Gaylord	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	4	9	3
Belle Plaine	0	0	4	2	0	0	0	0	X	6	7	1

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Team TigerTown got back to their winning ways as they knocked off Carver Central White foe Gaylord 6-4. The Tigers are now 8-13 overall and 3-5 in the CCL.

The Tigers used four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take an early lead. They added two insurance runs in the fourth to end their scoring. Gaylord did rally in the sixth as they plated six runs and knocked winning pitcher Mike Schultz (2-2) from the game. Ryan Witt, however, came in and ended the rally and finished the game as he collected his second save of the season. Schultz went 5 2/3 innings giving up four runs on six hits. He walked and stuck out four. Witt went the final 3 1/3 innings giving up no runs on three hits while striking out two.

 

God on Their Side
St. Peter Uses 2 Runs in 8th to End Tiger Win Streak (by Nick Kornder)

June 21st, 2005
The Tigers looked to win a season high fourth game in a row, but the man upstairs had other plans for El Tigre. The Tigers held a 5-4 lead heading into the eighth but couldn't hold on as they lose 6-5 in St. Peter.

Zip Zellman, the crafty veteran, was called upon late to take the mound and pitch 7.0 innings giving up five runs (two earned), struck out seven and walked only two.

Holding a 5-4 lead in the eighth and a runner on first, Zip hand the ball over to Dave Feldt. Feldt did his part as the next batter sacrificed, followed by a pop out to the pitcher. Feldt then had the next batter ground to Ryan Witt, who's errant throw allowed the runner on second to score and move the other runner to second. The next batter singled to score the game winning run. The Tigers were unable to mount an attack in the top of the ninth.

Mike Dhaene led the offensive attack as he went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Witt went 2 for 5 on the night with a pair of doubles, while Zellman went 2 for 4 with a ribby. Pat Schultz was 1 for 5 with one run batted in.

Tigers Consolation Champions

Pat Schultz Leads Way in Arlington / Green Isle Tourney (--by Brett Kruschke)

The Tigertown Express was dumped 10-1 by St. Cloud Orthopedic on Friday, but stormed back to win three straight and take the consolation championship in the 16-team Miller Lite Invitational, held this weekend in Arlington and Green Isle. Belle Plaine blitzed by Fairfax behind Mike Schultz’s 4-0, one-hit shutout on Saturday, then finally broke out the sticks on Sunday with 24 runs over two games. Final scores were 11-5 against the defending Miller Lite Invitational champions, Essig, and 13-3 over the Prior Lake Mudcats, thanks to an eight-run sixth that ended the game via the 10-run rule.

Pat Schultz was far-and-away the engineer of the Tiger Train, going 9-for-12 on the weekend, with seven RBI, three doubles, three walks, three steals, and six runs scored. The Tiger catcher raised his average from .292 to .383 in the process, and supplied his usual stellar defense behind the plate.

Two other key contributors were outfielder Tim Schuster and infielder / pitcher Ryan Witt. Schuster was an on-base machine, going 5-for-9 with four runs, three walks, two RBI and two hit-by-pitches. Witt went 5-for-14 with five RBI, and pulled double-duty on Sunday with a pair of relief appearances, allowing two unearned runs over three innings and gaining a save in the consolation championship. In six innings this year, Witt has yet to allow an earned run.

For the full tournament bracket and results, go to www.greenisleirish.net, or www.arlingtonas.net.
Full Herald Article

St. Peter Game Rained Out
No News on Rescheduling of Game (by Nick Kornder)

June 14th, 2005

The Tigers game against St. Peter was rained out. No make-up date has been set as of yet. Check back to this site for more details.

Tigertown Classic Not So for Tigers

Blue Earth Wins Another Championship in BP (--by Brett Kruschke)

June 15th, 2005

The Tigertown Classic used to be called the Tigertown “Wood Bat” Classic, but the luster of such a title was gone after the Minnesota Baseball Association changed from aluminum to wood bats in 2002. After watching the Tigers struggle miserably with the bats over three games this weekend, maybe it’s time to host the Tigertown “Aluminum Bat” Classic – anything to help our offensive attack. Belle Plaine did post a 7-0 shutout of Norwood, but lost 4-1 to Freeport and 12-2 to Lonsdale in the consolation game.

The details are gory: El Tigre went 11-for-74 (.149), with one extra-base hit—a Dave Kreft double. That’s alarming even by our own meager standards this season – the locals entered the weekend with a Great Depression-like team average of .221, and watched it plummet to .209. It’s funny we didn’t see some players jumping from the top of the grandstand. Maybe we should change our names from Tigers to “Wood Ticks” – because that’s about the extent of our offensive firepower. (You see, we barely “ticked” the ball with our wood bats – oh, never mind.)

Nonetheless, the tournament itself was outstanding, culminated by a Blue Earth 4-3 victory over Union Hill in the championship. The Bulldogs of Union Hill had the tying and winning runs at 2 nd and 3 rd, respectively, with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, when a strikeout ended the game.

For the Blue Earth Pirates, they received a trophy on Tiger Park’s hallowed grounds for the second time in nine months – the other, of course, being last year’s Class “C” state championship hardware, over Labor Day weekend. A lot of Pirates said this one was sweeter for them and their fans (ok – I just made that up).

7th Annual Tigertown Classic Results

Game 1 (Friday) – Freeport 4, Belle Plaine 1
Game 2 (Friday) – Union Hill 12, Norwood 2 (6 innings)
Game 3 (Saturday) – Marshall 7, Lonsdale 3
Game 4 (Saturday) – Blue Earth 4, Watkins 2
Game 5 (Saturday) – Lonsdale 6, Watkins 2
Game 6 (Saturday) – Belle Plaine 7, Norwood 0
Game 7 (Saturday) – Union Hill 5, Freeport 2 (semi-finals)
Game 8 (Sunday) – Blue Earth 2, Marshall 1 (semi-finals)
Game 9 (Sunday) – Lonsdale 12, Belle Plaine 2 (consolation)
Game 10 (Sunday) – Blue Earth 4, Union Hill 3 (championship)

Full Herald Article

Lonsdale Takes Consolation
Lonsdale Win TigerTown Classic Consolation (by Nick Kornder)

6/12/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Lonsdale	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	12	17	1
Belle Plaine (4-11, 2-4)	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	4	1

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Lonsdale took advantage of a Tiger error in the sixth inning to plate nine runs overall in the inning as take the consolation game 12-2. Blue Earth defeated Union Hill 4-3 to win the 2005 TigerTown Classic.

Dan Huber was on the mound for the Tiger for the first five innings. Dave Feldt took the mound in the sixth and didn't fare well. Although Dave always looks like he has been at a party until 5:00 a.m. the night before, in this instance it was true, and it showed. Lonsdale scattered the outfield with singles as Feldt's ERA and ego took a pounding, as he did not retire a batter. Zip Zellman then came in and was "Wild as a Peach Orchard Bore" as he walked a couple of batters with the bases loaded adding to the sixth inning massacre.

The Tigers did manage to keep the game going as pitch hitter Nick Volek turned a double down the left field line into a single, but later scored as the tigers made it a 11-2 game after six.

The Tigers will take on St. Peter on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. It will be "$1.00 a Foul Ball Night" at Tiger Park. Kids 12 and under will receive a $1.00 for each fall ball returned from the game.

Scott Schaffler Safe at Home vs. Norwood

He's Krefty
Dave Kreft and Tigers Blank Norwood 7-0 in TigerTown Classic (by Nick Kornder)

6/11/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Norwood	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	5
Belle Plaine (4-10, 2-4)	0	0	0	7	0	0	X	7	4	0

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Dave Kreft went six innings and was part in a 7-0 shutout of Norwood on Saturday at the TigerTown Classic. The Tigers now move on to the consolation game against Lonsdale tomorrow at 1:15 p.m. at Tiger Park.

After three innings of no hit ball the Tigers finally got a rally going in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the game the Tigers had only four hits but took advantage of four Norwood errors in the fourth inning as they plated seven runs.

Two Former Greats Enjoy the Game
Spanier Spanks Game Winner
Erik Spanier's 3 Run Homer in the 6th Gives Freeport 4-1 Win Over Team TigerTown (by Nick Kornder)

6/10/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Freeport	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	4	4	0
Belle Plaine (3-10, 2-4)	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	2

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Freeport's Erik Spanier hit a three run homer with one out in the 6th inning off of Mike Schultz to put Freeport up 4-1 securing a first round win in the 2005 TigerTown Classic. Freeport will take on Union Hill Saturday at 7:30 p.m. while Belle Plaine will host Norwood at 5:15 Saturday afternoon at Tiger Park.

Both teams racked up four hits in the game as both pitchers went the full seven innings. Schultz (0-2) gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits. Freeports Nate Klaphake gave up only one run on four hits. Full Tigertown Classic Bracket

Time for A Classic
7th Annual TigerTown Classic Set for This Weekend (by Nick Kornder)

The 7th annual Tigertown Classic will take place at Tiger Park, June 10-12, 2005. The Tigers are proud to announce these eight teams will compete for the Tigertown championship: Belle Plaine, Freeport (formerly Melrose), Union Hill, Norwood, Marshall, Lonsdale, Blue Earth, and Watkins. 

The hometown boys will kick things off taking on Freeport in the opening round starting at 6:30 p.m. The field will include last year’s state champions from Blue Earth. The Tiger have a slight lead on Blue Earth in the BPTigertown.com online poll by a 7-6 margin to be the favorite to win this year’s classic. Although this poll is unofficial (and probably skewed) Vegas does give El Tigre a 10:1 shot of winning the whole thing.

Tigers Look Much Better

Good Timing as Tigertown Classic Arrives (--by Brett Kruschke)

June 8th, 2005

This is the heart of the baseball season – summer has finally arrived, a few home game promotions coming up, and the Tigertown Classic is on tap. Right in sync, Belle Plaine has started to play better baseball – losing a tight, 4-3 decision at Chaska; then an 11-1 pounding of Winthrop, snapping a five-game losing streak and bumping the Tigers to 2-4 in CCL play (3-9 overall). Saturday’s game at New Munich was rained out, but provided some much needed team bonding for the boys of Tigerville.

This Friday, two forces come together: the Tigertown Classic and “All-You-Can-Eat” Pork Burger Night. The Tigers open things up against Freeport (formerly Melrose) at 6:30pm, while Union Hill and Norwood will begin Game 2 at approximately 8:30pm. All the while, you are free to gorge yourself on pork burgers for $5, until the last out of the night is recorded.

The 7 th annual “Classic” features the same format as last year: two games Friday, five games Saturday, and three games Sunday, including the championship at 3:30pm. The field is probably the finest this tournament has assembled; there are a bevy of state tournament-caliber teams, highlighted by last year’s Class ‘C’ state champions, the Blue Earth Pirates.

The other four teams debuting Saturday will be Lonsdale and Marshall, Watkins and Blue Earth. See tournament bracket accompanying article for full details; this information is also available at www.bptigertown.com.

Before the dust settles from the weekend, El Tigre will host league-mate St. Peter on Tuesday night at 7:30pm. It will be “Dollar-A-Foul Ball Night” for kids age 12 and under, a nice inflationary bump from the usual quarter received for a returned foul ball. Little Leaguers are encouraged to wear their uniform up to the park, and as always, there is no admission charge for kids of this age bracket. Outrace – or strategically outplace – your foul ball competition, and bring the ball to the concession stand for a one-dollar bill, all night long. Full Herald Article

Win Over Wintrop
Tigers end skid with 11-1 Seven Inning Win (by Brett Krushke)

6/5/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Winthrop	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	1
Belle Plaine (3-9, 2-4)	0	0	0	7	0	4	X	11	12	1

Belle Plaine, Minn. - Winthrop came into Sunday night’s game at Tiger Park with a 1-8 record, but the home team wasn’t buying it. That is a similar backdrop to how the Eagles have entered the playoffs the last few years, both times only to get hot and dispatch the Tigers accordingly.

Dave Kreft, the man in charge of the town team feeder program at BPHS, drew the starting assignment on the hill. He was buoyed by one of the Tigers most complete lineups to date, meaning Madison, WI resident and defensive star, Adam Hoffman, was present and in place at second base.

Things looked eerily familiar when Winthrop broke up a scoreless game in the fourth, making it 1-0 and threatening for more. But a dandy 6-4-3 double play – from Dhaene to Hoffman to Zip Zellmann – helped the Tigers escape further trouble.

The double play may have been a pick-me-up, as the Tigers roared to a seven-run fourth inning, chasing starter Jesse Erdal and batting eleven men in the process. Team Tigertown got it going again in the sixth, plating four before third base coach Brett “Dale Sveum” Kruschke waived in Kreft, where he was throw out by only about 50 feet, ending the rally.

Kreft dusted himself off and finished the five-hitter, the game ending early via the ten-run rule. The krefty I mean crafty veteran has allowed only three earned runs in 27 innings this year, good for a 1.00 ERA. He’s also a really neat guy, and when he plunks other batters, he totally doesn’t mean for it to hurt.

Perhaps the “most important thing” (ala ESPN’s Baseball Tonight) is that after having back-to-back four error games, the Tiger defense has tightened up and posted just one each game, over the last two.

Cubs Comebacks
Chaska Scores in 8th to Take Game (by Nick Kornder)

6/2/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Belle Plaine (2-9)	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	8	1
Chaska	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	X	4	8	1

June 2, 2005 Game Photos
Chaska, Minn - Team TigerTown took their fifth loss in a row as the Chaska Cubs rallied late to down the Tigers 4-3 at a mosquito infested Chaska Park. The Tigers are now 2-9 overall and 1-4 in the Carver Central.

The Tigers opened up a 1-0 lead in the first after Dan Huber used his speed to reach on an infield hit, then stole second, and eventually scored from there. When asked to comment on this trip around the bases after he returned to the dugout Huber was quoted as saying: “Deep Breaths… Deep Breaths…180 feet is a long ways to run.”

The Cubs came back to tie the game at one in the bottom of the first and took the lead in the third with another run. The Tigers responded with a run in the fourth and the fifth to hold a 3-2 lead, but the Cubs came back to tie the game at three in the sixth.

The Cubs delivered the deathblow in the bottom of the eighth as they scored the game winning run with two outs. With a runner on second, Huber had his pitch hit to short, where the shortstop Mike Dhaene fumbled the ball and had to rush his throw. The toss to first was snagged be the towering first baseman know to all as Zip, but fell from his glove when hit by the base runner, leaving him safe and scoring the runner from second.

Jon Schulz takes the loss in both the game and the online poll as he drops to 0-4. DanWeldon and Zip Zellman both went 2 for 4 with Weldon hitting a double and Zellman scoring a run.

 

Get Well Soon Chad!! Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You!

 

 

More Time to Manage

Ace of the Staff on the DL

Tiger Manager Shane Hofmann got some unfortunate news from the team doctor this past week. The self proclaimed "Ace of the Staff" was diagnosed with right shoulder Scupular Dyskinesis and right Rotator Cuff weakness and right elbow Medial Epicondiytis. Hofmann immediately put himself on the 15 day DL and will put his focus on his managerial role. For the Tigers they will look to break a four game skid against the Chaska Cubs Thursday night. The Tigers will double their efforts with the fact that the WEBMASTER will be at the game overseeing all details of the game, including some photos.

Tigers Waxed Twice

…And Move Into First Place in CCL-White (--by Brett Kruschke)

June 1st, 2005

An already frustrating season hit rock-bottom last week, as Veseli and Green Isle delivered virtually identical poundings, dropping the Tigers to 2-8. Veseli punished the Plainesmen 11-1, while the Irish used a 9-run inning to smoke the locals 12-1; both games were on the road and 10-run rule, 7-inning affairs.

Despite it all, the Tigers slipped into first place in the Carver Central League – White Division! That’s right – at 1-3, El Tigre is tops over 1-4 Gaylord and Winthrop, 1-6 Brownton, and 0-2 St. Peter. “That’s nothing to be proud of, Rusty.”

With one-third of the regular season schedule in the books, the Tigers hope to use the week off over Memorial Day weekend to recharge their batteries and start anew. All I know is, one-third of the way through the season, rookie manager Shane Hofmann has Tigers in first place in the CCL-White. We like to call it the “bottom line” in Tigertown. Full Story

Irish Add to Tiger Ails
Second Straight 10 Run Loss (by Nick Kornder)

5/26/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Belle Plaine (2-8)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	4
Green Isle (6-2)	0	2	9	0	1	0	X	12	12	1

May 26, 2005
Green Isle , Minn -Team TigerTown continued to struggle as they lost their second game in a row by ten run rule. This time it was the Irish of Green Isle who sent the Tigers to their fourth straight loss by the score of 12-1. The Tiger’s fielding was again sub par as they had four errors for the second straight game.

Jon Schulz (0-3) took the loss as he went 2 1/3 innings giving up nine runs (seven earned). However, Schulz was able to plunk former Tigers Pat “Mo” Moriarty and Jeff “Hot Dog” Miller before leaving the game.

Mike Dhaene had one of the Tiger’s five hits, a double, which marked the first extra base hit in four games for the Tigers.

Warriors Tame Tigers
Veseli 10 Runs Tigers (by Nick Kornder)

5/24/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Belle Plaine (2-7)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	4
Veseli	5	0	0	2	0	4	X	11	12	1

May 24, 2005
Union Hill , Minn - Team TigerTown dropped its third in a row and seventh of their last eight as Veseli handed them an embarrassing 11-1 loss in seven innings under the lights of Union Hill Field. Mike Schultz (0-3) took the loss after going four innings and giving up seven runs. Dave Kreft came in the final two innings and gave up four runs. Ryan Witt paced the Tiger offense as he went 2 for 3 in the game.

Losing Ways Continue

Tough Stretch Drops Tigers to 2-6 (--by Brett Kruschke)

May 25th, 2005
Over the winter, Belle Plaine decided to put together a challenging exhibition schedule. To date, that mountain – combined with the mighty struggle of the Tiger bats – has been too high for the locals to climb. Team Tigertown’s record is 2-6 (1-3 CCL) overall after a pair of losses: 4-1 to Plato last Tuesday, May 17th, and 8-4 at St. Francis on Friday.

Belle Plaine is 53 for 261 on the year, a paltry .203 average. (Note to other teams reading this: that means start throwing us more fastballs!) Pitching-wise, the Tigers have been so-so, registering a 4.02 ERA. To boot, Shane Hofmann left the St. Francis game with a pop in his pitching elbow, and Nate Hartmann sprained an ankle at work (we know it wasn’t on the bases) and will miss at least four weeks. The next thing you know, Brad Connolly will sprain his lips while trying to eat a hot dog.

Hopefully by the time you read this, the Tiger Trolley will have bested Veseli, whom they played at Union Hill Tuesday night (Veseli’s field does not have lights). On Thursday, the locals venture to Green Isle to battle a pair of former Tigers in Jeff “Hot Dog” Miller and Pat Moriarty, at 7:30 pm. Full Story

 

Saints Be Praised
St. Francis Beats Tigers 8-4 (by Nick Kornder)

The Tigers took their sixth loss of the season when the St. Francis Saints beat Team TigerTown by the score of 8-4. Not all the stats have been tallied but the absence of the great Dan Weldon and Adam "I spell my named different than Shane" Hoffman plus Nate Hartmann out with an ankle injury left the red, blue, gray, white, ect. of Belle Plaine a bit short handed. Skipper Shane "I spell Hofmann the correct way" Hofmann (0-3) took his third loss of the season. More details on the game will be updated soon.

Tigers Invade St. Francis
Don't Let the Name Fool You - They're No Staints (by Nick Kornder)

Team TigerTown will take on St. Francis on Friday night at 8:00 p.m. in St. Francis, Minn. The Tigers are coming off a tough 4-1 loss to Plato on Tuesday night, but will send their self-proclaimed 'ace of the staff' to the mound. Pitcher/Manager Shane Hofmann will give himself the nod tonight against one of the more flamboyant teams in amateur baseball. St. Francis comes in with two perfect records. First they are 2-0 on the season, and then they are 1-0 in being tossed out of tournaments due to extracurricular activities. Their website is even rated PG-13 with police mug shots for photos and half their roster's previous league being the California Penal.

The Tigers will have to look past all of this and focus on the classic game of baseball. You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. It’s a simple game. Check back tomorrow morning for full details on tonight's match-up.

5/15/05 "Should Dan Huber Keep Letting His Hair Grow Out"

Yes (21)	38%
No (6)	11%
Shave it at home plate! (28)	51%

Total Votes: 55

The Academy of Plato
Plato Stays Perfect - Tiger's Winning Streak Ends (by Nick Kornder)

5/17/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Plato (5-0)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	4	9	1
Belle Plaine (2-4)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	2

 

May 17, 2005
Belle Plaine, Minn - Not even Socrates himself can stop the great philosophizers of the juggernaut known as the Plato Blue Jays, but Team TigerTown was their greatest foe as of yet. Plato won a 4-1 debate as they improved to 5-0 on the season, but Tigers held the Jays to their lowest run total of the season thus far.

Plato lit up the scoreboard first when Jon Becker launched a solo homer in the top of the sixth. They then added three more in the top of the eighth before the Tigers finally got on in the board in the bottom of the eighth.

El Tigre could only muster four hits in the game. Tim Schuster, Pat Schultz, Mike Dhaene, and Dan Huber all went 1 for 4 with Huber driving in the only run.

Jon Schulz (0-2) took the loss in the game after he went six innings giving up one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out one with his only mistake being the solo homer in the sixth. Ryan Witt pitched a scoreless seventh before Dave Feldt came in and gave up three runs on three hits. Mike Schultz came in to finish up the game.

The Tigers are now 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the Carver Central. They hit the road to take on St. Francis on Friday, May 20th at 8:00 p.m.

Looking for Two in a Row
Need to Knock Plato From Ranks of Undefeated to Do So (by Nick Kornder)

Team TigerTown will look for win number two in a row when Plato comes to TigerTown on Tuesday night. But in order to do so they have to knock off a team that is unblemished on the season. Plato comes in with a perfect 4-0 record after outscoring their competition 38 to 3 on the season. They beat St. Boni 14-0, ran past Arlington 8-2, killed Cologne 10-0, and nailed Norwood 6-1. The Tigers (2-4) on the other hands have been outscored 31 to 28 on the season.

“Vic”tory At Last

Hoffmann Wins First as Tigers End CCL Skid (--by Brett Kruschke)

May 18th, 2005
The local nine lost to Elko 13-6 Wednesday in a game that fell apart late, before dumping the Victoria Vics 3-1 on Sunday for a much-needed CCL victory. The win was manager Shane Hofmann’s first, and the Tigers’ first Carver Cental League triumph of the year. The Big Grrr now stands at 1-3 in league play, 2-4 overall.

Last Friday’s exhibition battle versus Northfield – and “All-You-Can-Eat” Pork Burger Night – could not go on as scheduled, due to poor field conditions at Tiger Park. The game will not be made up; however, Pork Burger Night will be re-scheduled, so stay tuned.

Tuesday night El Tigre will play host to Plato – check www.bptigertown.com for results and highlights; a game report will also appear in next week’s Herald.

On Friday, Team Tigertown ventures to St. Francis and will hope to live to tell about it. Game time is 8:00 pm. Next Tuesday, May 24, Belle Plaine will battle Veseli, at Union Hill. In case of rain, the game will be played in Huck’s Bar. Full Story

Sweet Victory Over Victoria
Tiger's End Four Game Losing Streak - Hofmann Gets First Managerial Win (by Nick Kornder)

5/15/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Victoria	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	2
Belle Plaine	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	X	3	7	1

Belle Plaine, Minn - Everything tastes a bit better after a win, especially if it is your first managerial win for one of the powers in the Carver Central White Division. Skipper Shane Hofmann enjoyed a cold one after he notched his first victory. Helping him reach this plateau was pitcher Dave Kreft (1-0), who pitched seven solid innings, giving up no runs on four hits. He struck out seven and walked four as he also picked up his first win of the season. Mike Schultz came in the final two innings and picked up his first save of the season as he gave up one run on one hit and walked a batter. Schultz got out of some trouble in the top of the ninth. With the tying run at the plate and everyone's spikes back on in the dugout, Schultz struck out the final two Vics to secure the win.

 

Northfield Cancelled

The TigerTown game against Northfield has been cancelled. It has not been rescheduled. To all you pork lovers, there is talk of moving all you can eat pork burger night to a diiferent game.

Northfield Knights Next
All You Can Eat Pork Burgers $5.00-- Side Note - Pork Stocks Skyrocket (by Nick Kornder)

May 13, 2005
The Northfield Knights bring an 0-2 record to Tiger Park Friday night as both teams get out the chicken bones to scare the evil sprits from their bats. If its not bad enough that both teams are on a losing streak, add in the fact that it is Friday the 13th. But never fear, die-hard fans such as Desiree M. will toss caution into the wind just to get a glimpse of some of the less groomed boys of Team TigerTown.

Error Supply
Kruschke Says "Shane, I'm So Lost Without You" (by Nick Kornder)

5/11/05	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Elko Express	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	4	6	13	10	2
Belle Plaine	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	6	9	3

Belle Plaine, Minn - The Elko Express scored ten runs over the final two innings as they won 13-6 and robbed interim manager Brett Kruschke of his 101st win. Kruschke did not help his cause as he looked more like a rookie than a 14 year veteran in left field as he miss-played a couple of balls due to “Night Blindness”. To quote Kru: “It was a circus out there tonight and I was the Ringmaster.” Adding to the pain was a plethora of walks and errors that led to the late Elko rally. Anytime you walk nine and hit five batsmen you are in for trouble.

The Tigers did have their chances late. With the bases load and two outs in the bottom of the eighth the Mighty Casey (AKA Pat Schultz) struck out, ending a Tiger rally. Schultz did finish the game 2 for 5. Dan “DW” Weldon led the offensive attack again as he went 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles.

Mike Schultz (pictured) was a monster on the mound for the first six innings as he struck out a decades worth of Elkoians. Dave Feldt came in for two innings and took his first loss of the season as he gave up five runs, definitely not all earned. Jackson Thiesfeldt was called upon in the ninth and also gave up five, but once again, not all earned.

As for the un-coveted sombrero; it has been passed around more than a…. (fill in your own dirty comment here). After Dave Kreft took it in game two, and Ryan Witt gained it in game three, Jason Thiesfeldt said 'let’s get this out of the way early' and gained the Mexican Headdress with three Ks on the night.

Elko Enters TigerTown
$1.00 Dog Night -- Bring A Jacket (by Nick Kornder)

May 11, 2005
As you can see by the new weather bulletin in your upper right hand corner tonight’s game is going to be a cold one when Team TigerTown hosts Elko. With a high of only 54 degree and a 30% chance of rain, fans will have to bundle up to see Ryan Witt go for the hot dog record. Witt will have a financial advantage on the Tharley record, as it will be dollar dog night at Tiger Park.

Close, But No Cigars

Late Foibles Sting Tigers Twice (--by Brett Kruschke)

May 11th, 2005
Belle Plaine dropped to 0-3 in league play for the first time in recent history, losing close contests to a pair of Class ‘B’ stalwarts from the Carver Central, Shakopee and Prior Lake. Against the Indians, the Tigers trailed 1-0 in the 8 th before four runs became a

5-2 loss; and at Prior Lake, the locals rallied for three in the ninth to take a 6-4 lead, only to watch the Jays score three of their own for a dramatic 7-6 win.

El Tigre is 1-3 overall, having opened the season with a well-managed 11-4 victory over New Germany. Full Story

NINTH INNINGS NEMESIS
Prior Lake Scores Three in Bottom of Ninth to Tip Team TigerTown (By Nick Kornder)

May 8th, 2005
Prior Lake, Minn. -Team Tigertown rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth inning to take at 6-4 lead only to have Prior Lake do the same in the bottom of the ninth to get the 7-6 win. The Mother's Day Massacre marks the Tigers (1-3, 0-3) third straight loss and third in the Carver Central League.

After the Tigers got their three runs in the ninth, Prior Lake (1-0, 1-0) hit a two run homer, then a triple, then a single to win their season opener.

Pat Schultz had two of the Tiger’s nine hits. He also had two RBIs and a walk in the game as he went 2 for 4 on the day. Dan Weldon went 1 for 5 but had two Rbis. Nate Hartmann was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a walk.

Shakopee Spoiler
Indians Spoil Home Opener With 5-2 Win (By Nick Kornder)

May 6th, 2005
Belle Plaine, Minn. - The Shakopee Indians spoiled the TigerTown home opener with a 5-2 win. Even the cheers of the thousands, nay tens of thousands in attendance on dollar beer night could not right the sails of team El Tigre's bats. Jackson Thiesfeldt's two run double in the bottom of the ninth finally ended a 17 inning scoreless streak by the host squad. Pat Schultz (pictured) chimed in the background of a phone call at the team meeting to remind everyone that he went 2 for 4 in the game as he provided 1/3 of the team's offense.

Shane Hofmann (0-2) took the mound in his home depute as skipper, but ended up taking his second loss in as many games. More information will be available Saturday evening. Shakopee is now 2-0 on the season. Full Story

Home Opener Friday Night
$1.00 Beer Night -- Enough Said (by Nick Kornder)

Team TigerTown has their home opener Friday, May 6th at 7:30 p.m. at Tiger Park. They will be taking on the Shakopee Indians. The Tigers come into the game 1-1 while the Indians are 1-0 after clobbering Gaylord 19-3 in seven innings Wednesday night. Newly appointed skipper Shane Hofmann will make his home depute as Manger at Tiger Park and to quote him: “Ironically, I am starting the home opener”. Team TigerTowns' "Ace of the Staff" is currently 0-1 on the season after losing at Waconia 3-0 after giving up three unearned runs.

On Sunday the Tigers will take on the Prior Lake Jays at 2:00 p.m. in Prior Lake. This will be Prior Lakes’ season opener. Team El Tigre will send crafty veteran, and sombrero owner, Dave Kreft (0-0) to the hill. Kreft has been making headlines for his stellar pitching and lackluster batting. The all or nothing slugger hit the Tiger’s first home run of the season at New Germany, but followed that up with a sombrero earning three strike out performance at Waconia.

Season Tickets Now On Sale

SEASON TICKETS - Two season ticket options are available this year: the $20 season ticket, good for entry into all regular season home games (including the Tigertown Classic); and a $50 season ticket for membership in the Tiger Dugout Club, which not only includes entry into all regular season home games and the Tigertown Classic, but also a free hot dog and beverage of your choice (including beer) at each game, plus a Tiger Dugout Club t-shirt! Tickets will be available at the gate, at Brad's Barber Shop, or through any of the Belle Plaine Baseball Assn. [BPBA] board members. For more information, feel free to contact Brett Kruschke at bkru11@yahoo.com, or call 612-327-2715.  Your support is greatly appreciated!!

 

Cold Weather, Bats Leave Tigers Feeling Blue

Split on Road, but Drop CCL-Opener to Waconia ( by Brett Kruschke)

May 2, 2005
Belle Plaine, Minn. - You don’t need Paul Douglas to tell you it was cold this last weekend, but unless you were one of the few and hearty Tiger road fans, you might not know that the Belle Plaine bats were equally as chilly. The Tigers opened the season amid snowflakes, with a pair of road games Saturday and Sunday. First, an 11-4 exhibition victory over New Germany, put away with a six-run ninth; then a complete clamp-down at the hands of Waconia hurlers Rob Wagener and Travis Van Doren, who between them struck out 14 and yielded but three hits in a 3-0 stinker. Full Article

STREAK ENDING SUNDAY
Santana and Tiger's Winning Streaks End (by Nick Kornder)

May 1, 2005
Waconia, Minn. - Just like Johan Santana the Tigers lost their first game since last summer in a 3-0 setback to Waconia. Although the Tiger’s streak was a bit less impressive than Santana’s, (stretching only one game) they lost it in a similar fashion – A pitcher’s duel.

Waconia’s Rob Wagener was to the Tiger’s as Bartolo Colon was to the Twins. Wagener went seven innings striking out nine and allowing only two hits. The Tiger’s only threat came in the fifth after a running reached on an error, Dan Huber (pictured) smoked a two out double to put runners at second and third. Adam Hofmann took the Matthew LeCroy role and ended the threat with a ground out to the short shop. *If some of this doesn’t make sense watch Twin’s highlights from Sunday against the Angels. Full Story

TIGERS OPEN 2005 SEASON WITH 11-4 WIN
Tigers Use Six Run Ninth to Open Game Up (by Nick Kornder)

April 30, 2005
New Germany, Minn. - Team Tigertown opened the 2005 season with an 11-4 win over the Dutchmen of New Germany despite the absence of newly appointed skipper Shane Hofmann. Hofmann was unable to attend his opening depute due to youth basketball camp – he was fined $5.00. Luckily for Team Tigertown, former manager, now player, Brett Kruschke stepped in to fill the vacancy. With the win Kruschke picks up his 100th win as skipper of the Tigers. His overall record stands at 100-91 (.524) over the last 14 seasons.

The Tigers opened up a 5-4 game in the ninth inning when they scored six runs to secure the opening day win.

Dan Weldon (pictured) and Dave Kreft provided the offense for the Tigers as Weldon went 3 for 5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Kreft was 2 for 5 with three RBIs and a homer run. Full Story

TIGERTOWN CLASSIC FIELD ANNOUNCED

Belle Plaine, Minn. - The 7th annual Tigertown Classic will take place at Tiger Park, June 10-12, 2005. The Tigers are proud to announce these eight teams that will compete in the double-elimination format: Belle Plaine, Freeport, Union Hill, Norwood, Marshall, Lonsdale, Blue Earth, and Watkins. !!! (Click Here...) !!!

HOFMANN TABBED AS FIELD MANAGER