SLP 6/5/2023
Late rallies not enough as Crimson season ends
Box Score 6/5/2023
Spring Lake Park 7, Maple Grove 6
The day did not turn out the way the Crimson wanted, but the boys fought to the end, coming up just short of a full seventh-inning rally. Spring Lake Park put up four runs in the top of the first before making an out, running starter Michael Ross off the hill. Evan O'Dwyer came on in relief of Ross for Maple Grove and pitched five scoreless innings before giving up three runs in the sixth. O'Dwyer's final line was 5.2 IP, 7H, 3R, 1ER, 0BB, 6K. Noah Black came in for the final inning and a third, closing the door on the Panthers without giving up another run, striking out one.
At the plate, the Crimson plated an early run in the second as Gavin Kustermann got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. However, the Maple Grove hitters then waited until the sixth and seventh to rally, scoring two in the penultimate frame and three in the bottom of the seventh to some up one run short. Nathan Schmidt put on a show at the plate, going three for four, scoring two runs, and driving in two more, with two doubles on the day. Tanner Albeck hit his third home run of the season, a towering shot over the left field fence. But the Crimson didn't quite have enough to best the Panthers.
Maple Grove finishes the season with an 11-13 record.