Elk River coach Danielle Bloom expects Tuesday's game against Maple Grove to be full of anxious moments and nerve-racking situations. She couldn't be more excited.
"It is one of those games that ... reminds us why we play," she said. "We enjoy playing them and battling every pitch."
Maple Grove pitcher Ava Dueck has won most of those battles the past two seasons. The Crimson (7-1, 6-1), who are No. 3 in Class 4A rankings released by the coaches association on April 26, won 7-0 two years ago when Dueck pitched a four-hit shutout. They won again last season, 3-2, as Dueck struck out six and walked three.
In her senior season, Dueck is pitching as good as she ever has. She's 5-1 with an 0.91 ERA in 38 2/3 innings. She has struck out 59 and walked only six. She is also hitting .444 with three home runs and 11 RBI.
But don't think that Elk River (6-1, 5-0) is conceding anything to Dueck and the Crimson. With leadoff hitter and second baseman Kaitlin Tran (.583 batting average) and catcher Avery Hills (.545 BA) leading the way, the Elks are capable of scoring runs. They've scored in double digits three times this season and nearly hit the mark in another game (9-1 victory over Northfield).
Annabelle Volkers and Aalyse Eik have shared pitching duties for the Elks. Volkers, who is batting .400, was 2-0 with a 1.66 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings through the first four games. Eik was 2-0 with a 1.05 ERA, 21 strikeouts and no walks through 13 1/3 innings in that time.
And, while the Elks have shut out three of their last five opponents, they might find keeping the opposition off the scoreboard a little more difficult when Maple Grove comes to their ballpark.
Sophie Culhane is a veteran leader for the Crimson hitting .278 with three home runs and 12 RBI while Jade Tomashek is hitting .588 with two home runs, and both were instrumental in the Crimson's past two victories over Elk River.