Champlin Park softball played three games last week amid an eventful end to the regular season, including a dramatic comeback 4-3 win over Wayzata on May 15.
The night following the win over Wayzata, it also became official that Champlin Park, Andover, and Rogers had each finished the season tied for first in the Northwest Suburban Conference with 10-2 records, meaning all three would end the season as conference champions.
Wayzata took a 1-0 lead at the top of the first despite impressive work on the mound by Ava Abrahamson. Champlin Park found some good contact at bat in the bottom of the first but could not break past first base. Both teams exchanged good pitches in the second inning, with Abrahamson getting three kills while Reese Reimler and Erin Kaluza hit singles but were then handled by good fielding.
Wayzata built up the pressure with a two-run home run in the top of the third to make it 3-0 before first baseman Kaluza and second baseman Lauren Heltemes helped bring order to the game and get the Rebels to bat. Chloe Postma earned a walk and was replaced by Sydney Burnevik, who then stole both second and third base. And Amanda Kotsmith’s hit brought Burnevik home, getting Champlin Park its first run of the night.
A catch by shortstop Kotsmith and continued strong pitching by Abrahamson kept Wayzata from scoring in the fourth.
An opportunity opened up in the bottom of the fifth for Champlin Park. Ava Parent had walked to first and was eventually joined by Reimler. Abrahamson stepped up to bat and slammed home a three-RBI home run to get all three home and give Champlin Park its first lead of the night. That big moment proved to be the big moment as the Rebels held off Wayzata for two more innings to win 4-3 and extend their win streak to 14 games.
Abrahamson ended the game with three RBI, one run, and 10 strikeouts against Wayzata in six innings amid a spectacular performance on both sides of play.
Other results
Champlin Park opened last week with a 5-0 win over district rivals Anoka on May 14. Kotsmith led on runs with two, while Hannah Husom picked one run and one RBI. Reimler also had an RBI, while Parent and Heltemes each scored a run. The Rebels stretched it unbeaten streak to 15 games on May 16, beating Chaska 2-1 to conclude its regular season schedule for 2024.
Champlin Park will play in the Section 5AAAA tournament next week, with seeding yet to be announced when this edition went to press.
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