In a thrilling Tomahawk Conference baseball opener, New Ulm Cathedral secured a 7-6 victory over Sleepy Eye with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning. Joey Schugel’s two-out bloop single drove in Caleb Forstner from second base, sealing the win for the Greyhounds.
The game saw a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, with Jake Finstad earning the win in relief for Cathedral. Sleepy Eye’s Winsten Nienhaus took the loss after allowing four runs in three innings, including two unearned runs.
Despite Sleepy Eye holding a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Cathedral mounted a comeback, tying the game with two outs on a series of hits and a crucial infield error. The Greyhounds capitalized on their momentum in the seventh inning, ultimately clinching the victory with Schugel’s game-winning hit.
Both head coaches acknowledged the competitive nature of the game, with Cathedral’s Alan Woitas praising Sleepy Eye as a strong opponent. Sleepy Eye’s Aaron Nesvold emphasized the early stage of the season and the importance of focusing on the games that matter in the long run.
The game showcased standout performances from players on both teams, with Elliott Schabert leading the Greyhounds with three hits and Austin Uecker delivering a stellar performance at the plate for Sleepy Eye with four hits and two RBIs.
Looking ahead, Cathedral will face Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s, while Sleepy Eye will travel to Wabasso for their next matchups. The intense competition and dramatic finish of this game set the stage for an exciting season ahead for both teams.