NEW RICHLAND – In a span of about 26 hours, the NRHEG baseball team registered three wins and grabbed a share of first place in the Gopher Conference.

Thursday, May 10, 2001

NEW RICHLAND – In a span of about 26 hours, the NRHEG baseball team registered three wins and grabbed a share of first place in the Gopher Conference.

The third win was the biggest.

A day after defeating Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 6-5 and Medford 10-0, the Panthers knocked off conference leading Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 7-6 at New Richland Tuesday.

The Panthers improved to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the conference, tied with WEM for the top spot.

&uot;It was a big win,&uot; said coach Jeff Reese.

It wasn’t an easy one though. The Panthers were outhit 9-7 and they survived five fielding errors. The Bucs hurt themselves with four errors.

&uot;We need to make the routine plays if we want to be successful,&uot; said Reese.

The visitors put two runs on the board in the top of the first, but the Panthers answered with six in the bottom – helped by a pair of errors by the WEM third baseman. Jens Wyrum had a two-run single and Dusty Reese a two-run double. Cory Bailey drove in a run with a suicide squeeze bunt.

The Panthers’ other run came in the second, when Wyrum singled, stole second and scored on a single by Reese.

Reese, the coach’s son, finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Wyrum was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Clark Field, Seth Tukua and Kyle Utpadel contributed one hit apiece.

Tony Schlaak continued to get stronger on the mound coming off a shoulder injury from wrestling. The senior right-hander went the distance, scattering nine hits while striking out 10 and walking two. Four of the runs off him were earned.

The Panthers travel to face Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton Friday.