By Jim Bastian

sports@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — It is five months away, but the dates for both the Junior Upper Midwest Classic and the Upper Midwest Classic have both been moved back a week to avoid conflict with the July 4th holiday.

“The Junior Classic will be held June 19-22 and the Upper Midwest Classic will be June 26-29,” John Giefer of the New Ulm Legion Baseball Committee said. “We were struggling for teams the last few years for the Upper Midwest Classic over the July 4th holiday to try and get to 16 teams, and sometimes when we had 16 teams on the 4th, some teams backed out because of that. Last year we had to have our Junior Legion play in the Classic.”

Giefer also said that playing on the July 4th weekend had put a strain on umpires, volunteer workers (New Ulm Baseball and Legion Committee) to find workers and as well as parks in Searles and Essig.

Giefer said that the change for this summer has already been accepted by everyone.

“I could not be happier,” Giefer said. “Both of our tournaments are full, and I have a waiting list for both tournaments. The Upper Midwest Classic is the one that we always struggled with in getting teams we are full and have a longer waiting list than we do for the Junior Classic.”

New teams entered this season are from Springfield, Nebraska; Omaha (Nebraska); Westview (two teams); and West Fargo, (ND). Also in are Harrisburg (SD) and St. Peter.