Rebels baseball closes out season in elimination bracket loss

Champlin Park baseball went 0-2 last week to conclude its participation in the Section 5AAAA tournament and the 2024 season, losing Maple Grove and Irondale on May 28 and 30, respectively.

Maple Grove

As the No. 4 seed, Champlin Park began last week with a nail-biting 4-3 loss to No. 5 seed Maple Grove at home on May 28 in the first round of the Section 5AAAA tournament.

The two teams shared a scoreless first inning, showcasing strong pitching by Champlin Park senior Tyler Phenow before Maple Grove struck the first blow at the top of the second. A deep hit into center field allowed a runner to reach home plate from second base, making it 1-0. Champlin Park came close to responding with singles by Connor Sammon and Cal Ockuly, but Maple Grove defended well to keep the lead.

Positive performances from Tristan Wekseth at first, Chase Oxborough at second, Nick Carlson at shortstop and Aaron Coan at third continued in the third to fifth innings as Champlin Park held Maple Grove scoreless for some time. Phenow also remained composed at the pitcher’s mound.

Coan, Carlson and Wekseth all hit singles through those innings, but Maple Grove refused to allow a run, always finding the clutch play at the fence or with a last-second tag at first.

The tide suddenly changed in the bottom of the sixth with three runs for Champlin Park. A huge hit by Carlson became a RBI double as Oxborough reached home. Sammon then hit a two-RBI single to bring Carlson and Ty McGee home and give the Rebels a lead to defend.

Maple Grove had the last laugh, however, and scored three runs in the top of the seventh to retake the lead and win the game. The runs came from two deep hits into right field.

Irondale

Champlin Park then fell on the wrong side of a shocking win, falling 1-0 to eighth-seed Irondale in the first round of the elimination bracket to end its season. They went 6-6 in NWSC play this year, 11-9 overall. The Knights, who earned a 2-16 Suburban East Conference record this year, were on a nine-game losing streak prior to their elimination win against Champlin Park.

Champlin Park will graduate five seniors this season, a core group of Rebels to remember for years to come. The list includes Coan, McGee, Oxborough, Phenow and Sammon.