PREP BASEBALL: Diekmann breaks Minnesota's games-played record

ADRIAN -- Adam Diekmann thought he was just along for the ride when he hopped on the bus taking Adrian's baseball team to the 2005 state tournament.

But to the wide-eyed seventh-grader's surprise, head coach Kevin Nowotny sent him in -- and Diekmann's first varsity experience came on high school's biggest stage.

He never left the lineup.

Last week, Diekmann ended his high school baseball career the same way he started it five years ago -- by helping Adrian win a Class A consolation trophy at the state tournament.

In between, he set a new Minnesota high school record by playing in 133 varsity games.

"He's been there every game, every season," Nowotny said. "133 varsity games later, now we send him off. What a great player."

The coach knew Diekmann had potential, but he also had some added motivation for calling on the 13-year-old to play in that Class A state baseball contest.

A few dropped fly balls in Adrian's first round game against Chisholm propelled Nowotny to try the youngster out.

"I was kind of upset, so I put Adam in left field," Nowotny recalled.

Diekmann wasn't expecting it.

"I just got to tag along because Brett (Nowotny) was the batboy at the time," Diekmann said (he and Brett, the coach's son, were two of the senior leaders on this year's Adrian squad).

"I was just planning on hanging out with Brett the whole time, rather than playing."

But Coach Nowotny had other plans, and he made the substitution with the bases loaded and two outs. The next hit was a tough fly to -- where else?

Left field.

Diekmann caught it, the first of many outstanding plays he'd make over his high school career as an outfielder, shortstop and pitcher.

Five years later, Diekmann is leaving Adrian with a career record of 25-4 on the mound, a batting average that stands well over .300 and two Class A consolation titles.

He also etched his name into Minnesota high school baseball history by simply stepping onto the field in Chaska at this year's state tournament.

With his first pitch, he made his 131st varsity appearance -- passing up fellow Adrian graduate Glen Kruger ('08) for the record.

Actually, the games-played category is a Dragon-dominated list, with Adrian alumni now holding four of the top five spots in state history.

There's Diekmann and Kruger, followed by '05 grad Levi Bullerman (126 games) in third. Adam's older brother Brandon Diekmann ('07) is fifth on the list with 116 games.

Why have so many Dragons played so many games?

Diekmann had a couple of reasons.

One -- their tournament success has extended their season over the past few years.

"It just seems like every year Coach Nowotny gets a team, no matter what the talent is, he seems to push his teams so they come through at the end of the season," Diekmann said.

Two -- Nowotny isn't afraid to try out his younger players, and with Adrian's size sometimes he doesn't have a choice.

"We have guys that are really going to get that experience right away," Diekmann said. "We start playing ball really young, and we just love the game."

Two years ago, an injury tested Diekmann's love for the game.

He tore his right labrum (a shoulder muscle) during football season, and had to choose whether to have surgery during winter or spring -- basketball or baseball season.

"He gave up his basketball season so he'd be ready for baseball," Nowotny said, "so you know where his heart is."

"Baseball's the sport I love most, out of any sport that I've ever played," Diekmann confirmed.

Now, that No. 133 listed in the Minnesota record books will be evidence of just how much Diekmann loves the game.

He doesn't know how long his mark will stand, but he won't be surprised if in the near-future someone comes and knocks him down the list.

"Records are meant to be broken," he said. "The next guy, hats off to him. He broke it, just like I broke someone else's record."

Is there a chance that player will wear an Adrian Dragon uniform?

"Probably Adrian, because we've got the tradition of bringing up eighth graders," Deikmann said. "We'll have to see what happens."