Brainerd 5/23/2024

Crimson Win Battle With Warriors

Box Score 5/23/2024

Maple Grove 8, Brainerd 5

Maple Grove traveled to Brainerd for the final regular season contest of 2024 and battled through a sluggish start to overtake the Warriors and bring home an 8-5 victory. Beckett Shimpa (2.2 IP, 3H, 1ER, 3BB, 2K) started on the mound for the Crimson and was strong for his first two innings, but hit a rough patch in the third and was relieved by Matthew Kuno (1.1IP, 1H, 1ER, BB, 3K) who pitched a masterful inning and a third before he struggled along with the defense to start the fifth. Brody Berglin (3IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K) came on to pitch the final three innings and get the win.

At the plate, Maddex Van Slooten (3/4, 2B, R, RBI, 2SB) and Kellen Riskedahl (3/4, 2B, 2RBI) led the way and Gavin Kustermann (2/4, R) followed closely behind, while Kaden Harney (1/4, 2B, R, RBI) and Beckett Shimpa (1/4, 2B, R, RBI) also provided RBI doubles.

The Crimson struck first in the top of the third with a 2-RBI single from Riskedahl and a run-scoring error on a ground ball from Brady Aubut (1/4, 2R). Unfortunately, the Warriors struck right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two of their own with three 2-out singles and a wild pitch. MG added back to their lead in the top of the fourth with Harney's RBI double and again in the fifth with a Kuno sac fly to score Riskedahl after his own double.

Brainerd tied it up at five in the bottom of the fifth, on a double, a walk, and two Crimson errors. Maple Grove kept scoring every inning, though, and finally crept out to a lead that would not be relinquished. Dylan Vokal (0/2, BB) led off the sixth with a walk, but was forced out at second on a fielder's choice from Harney. Shimpa followed with his RBI double and moved to third on the throw home, scoring as the Warrior catcher threw the ball away on an attempt to throw him out.

Berglin shut down Brainerd in the bottom half of the sixth and the Crimson bats added an insurance run in the seventh on a Riskedahl single and Van Slooten double. Berglin again shut down Brainerd in the bottom of the seventh to record the tenth victory of the year in the last regular season game of the year for Maple Grove.

Box Score