SLP 5/29/2023
Crimson secure playoff victory with walk-off HBP in bottom of twelfth inning
Box Score 5/29/2023
Maple Grove 5, Spring Lake Park 4
An RBI single by Gavin Kustermann scored Dylan Vokal in the bottom of the second to give the Crimson an early lead. However, the Panthers came right back with a run of their own in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly. Spring Lake Park also plated a run in the fifth to take a lead of their own; but MG would answer right away in the bottom of the fifth to tie things up. The score would remain tied for six more innings until both teams plated multiple runs in the twelfth.
Evan O'Dwyer completed the first four innings on the hill for Maple Grove, giving up a lone Panther run in the third, striking out four, while allowing three hits and walking one. Hunter Gerber replaced O'Dwyer on the hill and would give up a single run over his six innings. striking out eight during his outing. Sam Hagen would take over for Gerber in the eleventh and complete a clean inning before giving up two runs in the twelfth as the Panthers took another lead.
Sam Kliber walked to lead off the bottom of the twelfth before being forced out at second base on Brody Berglin's fielder's choice. Gerber was hit by a pitch to push Berglin to second base, and Vann Olson entered to run Hunter. Nathan Schmidt came to bat and smacked a two-run double to right-center to score both runners and tie the game. Maddex Van Slooten pinch ran for Schmidt and would eventually score the winning run.
With Maddex at second, Brady Aubut worked a walk, Dylon Vokal followed Aubut with the same, and Kellen Riskedahl earned the game-winning RBI by taking the very next pitch to the shoulder, forcing Van Slooten in for the Maple Grove victory. The Crimson will return to Mounds View on Wednesday (4:30pm) for second round action in Section 5AAAA play.