Worthington Post 5 headed to sub-state tournament

Jul. 19—WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Trojans Post 5 Legion team drew the sixth seed in the Minnesota Sub-State 2023 Legion tournament.

The Post 5 squad finished the regular season with a 5-9 record and play tournament host New Ulm on Wednesday at the historic Johnson Park with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

The Worthington team is composed mostly of high schoolers, but also includes WHS alumni Jake Brandner, Blake Ahrenstorff and Tristan Sauerbrei.

The Post 5 team provides a different schedule for its players compared to the prior prep season.

For starters, a more relaxed and consistent schedule with two games a week, versus the fast break-neck pace that late winters push Minnesota baseball into in April.

Legion baseball is coached by Austin Nunez, who became involved after a recommendation from former WHS baseball coach and WAYBA board member Skyler Wenninger.

Nunez is a graduate of Jackson County Central and was an assistant coach last year with both girls basketball and baseball.

"It is a lot of fun. I get to see them both in school as a teacher but then out here as a coach — see them a little bit more and get to know a different side of them as a coach," Nunez said. "I know going in there's always things I want to see get done, but I also like to get the guys' input. ... Just giving them a voice and hearing what they think we need to work on."

The Post 5 team has posted victories in a variety of meaningful ways. They have won through their arms on the mound — including a statement 1-0 victory over Tea, South Dakota in which Sauerbrei threw a no-hitter — and also through their bats with a 10-run-rule victory over Marshall in the regular season finale.

The legion team offers underclassmen a way to develop to the varsity level. The Worthington Post 5 club features a healthy mixture of returning varsity players and new faces.

"For me, it's getting used to playing with them because next year I will be playing with them," said Tucker Brandner, who will be a WHS senior in the fall. "Teaching them is a big part of it. They haven't been there yet, so they won't know everything."

"It's nice to teach everybody because I still want to watch them succeed at the high school level," said Sauerbrei on why he is playing legion baseball this season. "This is where I grew up, I never want to see them lose."

Sauerbrei injured his non-throwing wrist in the prep season and continues to practice with his cast on.

Pitching the lion's share of games were Tucker and Jake Brandner, and Sauerbrei. Hard-throwing first baseman Cade Grimmius has also worked games as a starter and as a reliever.

Grimmius has taken the summer by storm from the batter's box, with multiple extra-base hits in the victory over Marshall.

"That's probably the happiest I have seen them all summer," Nunez said of the victory. "But it's been fun for them this summer and that's really what I wanted it to be. We want to win, but we also want to have fun and get them loving baseball again."

The Worthington team enters the sub-state tournament with a tight nine players after injuries have cut deep into the depth — but many possess the qualities needed to win games.

The summer also presents an opportunity for players to work on the fundamentals of their craft. Tucker spent the summer league rethinking how he uses his pitch arsenal — he is starting to trust his slider more and likes how it can be used to confound right-handed batters into taking a believed beanball for a strike.

While Sauerbrei has worked on the delivery of his pitch — using the summer to pitch with a submarine slot — he is committed to play baseball for Joey Kinley at Minnesota West next year. He throws his pitches in a variety of motions from over the top, sidearm and submarine.

Post 5's first opponent, New Ulm, will challenge Worthington to make impactful defensive decisions in high leverage moments.

New Ulm is famous in both prep and legion baseball for its love of small ball tactics. The Eagles will bunt for hits, take off for second and above all else, challenge their opponents to be perfect in the squeeze play where the batter will lay down a bunt as the runner at third sprints like a madman for home.

Yet, Nunez said he likes where his team is at in terms of defending the diamond.

"We play teams like Windom and Luverne and New Ulm, and those guys do all the little things and we have to be ready for that," said Nunez. "We just got to be ready for it. Especially in this tournament, you never know what is going to happen and what situations are going to come up. ... I am confident that we can get an out on that play, and I am confident that we can get it every time. I got the athletes and the players to do it."

Worthington Post 5 will play a second game on Thursday regardless of a win or loss to New Ulm. The more victories, however, means the further they will proceed in the tourney.

"We are the sixth seed and people expect us to lose-lose (but) that's not the case. I think we are going to surprise some people at the tournament — I really do, I am confident in the guys we got here and pitching is going to be the best we have had all year," said Nunez on his feelings before the tournament.