It came on his third strikeout of the game and gave him 1,000 career strikeouts in amateur baseball.

Bockenstedt finished with eight strikeouts in a 15-2 seven-inning win over the Bluejays.

Bockenstedt, who went five innings, said that the 1,000 strikeouts is a cool number to hit.

But in reality, it could be more.

Submitted photo Mitch Bockenstedt of the New Ulm Brewers poses for a photo with his family and a 1,000 strikeout banner.

“I played in Iowa for eight years and they did not keep any stats there.” he said. “When I started playing for Jordan (2011-18) they did a good job with their statistics. It (1,000 career strikeouts) was not something I targeted when I started. The 1,000 career strikeouts is neat because it shows being durable. … My family is OK with me playing and being gone quite a bit. I am very proud of being able to hit that mark.”

Bockenstedt, who started with the New Ulm Brewers in 2019, said that he knows other pitchers who have reached 1,000 strikeouts.

“Johnny Pistulka got it a couple of years ago and Scott Hollinsgworth from Jordan and Trent Bohnsack both got it. For me to get into that group is neat and to join them.”

Bockenstedt said that he is now in his 20th season of playing amateur baseball and has battled some arm issues over that time.

Bockenstedt said that going into Wednesday night’s game, he knew he needed three strikeouts for 1,000.

“My wife brought our kids and we had a bunch of our neighbors and they brought their kids too to be there — it was really neat,” he said. “My wife had a sign made that she brought from work which was nice. When I got it they all started cheering. They got a picture of us with the banner.”

Bockenstedt was given his 1,000th strikeout ball after.

“I told Terry Helget from Essig that I needed three strikeouts,” Bockenstedt said. “When I got it, we did not do much on the field — Essig was nice about it — they let me keep the ball.”

And his future beyond this season?

“I turn 40 next year and one of my goals is to play,” he said. “After that I will see how I feel.”

BREW CREW STATS: Prior to the Brewers game with Essig, the New Ulm Brewers were hitting .377 as a team with 18 home runs and 37 doubles. They had seven players hitting over .400 and had scored 180 runs.

Pitching-wise, the Brewers had only given up 62 runs this year and their team ERA was 2.92.

New Ulm is 11-0 in the Tomahawk East League and 18-1 overall.

They host Hanska next Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Johnson Park.