SLP 5/2/2023
Maple Grove puts up four right away versus SLP and takes the W
Box Score 5/2/2023
Maple Grove 4, Spring Lake Park 1
Hunter Gerber got the start on the hill and threw a complete game to get the win for the Crimson. After hitting the lead-off batter with the first pitch of the game, Gerber got out of the first unscathed and eventually spread six hits out over seven innings, giving up a lone run in the fifth, and finishing with two walks and eleven strikeouts. Gerber also produced at the plate, going two for four with a two-run home run and a double.Â
Maple Grove produced all of their runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sam Kliber led off with a walk, after which Connor Buckley completed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move him to second base. Gerber followed with his first long-ball of the season, making it an early 2-0 lead for the Crimson. A pop up followed for the second out of the inning, but MG wasn't done scoring. Tanner Albeck singled sharply to left, Dylan Vokal reached on an error by the third baseman, and Gavin Kustermann was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Connor Wihlm. Wihlm lined a single to left field to plate two more runs and complete the scoring for the Crimson.
The Crimson defense was error-free on the day, with the Panthers only run coming on a triple and a single in the fifth. Albeck fielded a couple of ground balls well at the hot corner, but Gerber mostly used strikeouts and pop ups or fly balls to keep SLP at bay. With the win, Maple Grove moves to 2-6 on the season, 1-6 in Northwest Suburban Conference play, and 1-3 both at home and on the road.