Mayer Community Guide MayerNGGuide19-Final | Page 22

In 1955, a new ballpark was built on
School District 77 land, and dugouts and
the grandstand were built with the help of
volunteers.
In 1956, the New Germany city fathers
organized a team, and with manager Harry
Zellmann, joined the 7-Hi League, which also
included Excelsior, Hopkins, Hutchinson, Long
Lake, Mound, Richfi eld, and Winsted.
The ballpark was dedicated May 6, 1956.
Later, the village of New Germany purchased
the property.
Changes took place at the ballpark, and
in 1970, the grandstand and dugouts were
rebuilt.
In 1980, a chain link fence was installed and
dedicated in memory of Dean Hensel, son of
Loren and Dorothy Hensel, according to the
New Germany Centennial Book.
In 1959, New Germany entered the Crow
River Valley League with the teams of Glencoe,
Green Isle, Hamburg, Lester Prairie, Mayer,
Norwood, Plato, and Young America.
In this same year, the New Germany baseball
team became known as the “Dutchmen” as its
offi cial name, by which it is still known today.
In 1987, the Crow River Valley League was
split into two divisions, the North and the
South. New Germany was placed in the North
Division.
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The Dutchmen were Crow River Valley
League Champions in 1964, 1967, 1968, and
1971.
The Dutchmen have made fi ve state
tournament appearances; 1967 in Alexandria,
1968 in Springfi eld, 1970 in St. Cloud, 1971 in
Brownton, and most recently in 1997, when they
beat Buckman 7-5 in the fi rst game, and lost to
Le Sueur, 4-3, in the second game.
In 1971, the Dutchmen had their best showing
at state, placing third.
In 2017, New Germany hosted the Region 7C
tournament where they set a new attendance
record.
Hall of Famers
The New Germany Dutchmen have one
member in the Minnesota Baseball Amateur
Hall of Fame.
That member is Gerald “Beans” Roepke,
inducted in 1993.
After 29 seasons of playing baseball, and
before retiring from the Dutchmen, Roepke
posted some impressive accomplishments.
In 1961 and 1980, he was voted the team’s
most valuable player; in 1980, 1981, 1982, and
1986, he had the Dutchmen’s highest batting
average; in 1981, he won the Crow River
Valley League batting title, with a .446 batting
average.
That same year, 1981, he was selected the
Most Valuable Player in the Crow River Valley
League all-star game.
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101 Ash Ave N | Mayer | [phone]
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ID 405612
22
Guide to Mayer & New Germany 2019-2020