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Gronholz's sixth-inning blast helps lift Chanhassen over New Prague

By Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine, 04/16/19, 12:00PM CDT

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Julia Gronholz hit a two-run homer to help the Storm surge back to edge the visiting Trojans 4-3.

Julia Gronholz rounded third after hitting a sixth-inning home run to right field that sparked a Storm rally in a 4-3 victory over New Prague. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Julia Gronholz rounded third after hitting a sixth-inning home run to right field that sparked a Storm rally in a 4-3 victory over New Prague. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Chanhassen freshman Sydney Schwartz delivered a pitch. Schwartz struck out eight and walked three to pick up the win for the Storm. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Chanhassen freshman Sydney Schwartz delivered a pitch. Schwartz struck out eight and walked three to pick up the win for the Storm. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Julia Gronholz has had to scratch and claw for everything she’s gotten so far this season. And it was her grit and determination that sparked Chanhassen’s 4-3 victory over New Prague inside the Eastern Carver County Recreation Athletic Center on Tuesday.

The junior’s two-out home run in the bottom of the sixth inning sparked a three-run rally and thwarted a late-charging New Prague squad that scored twice in the top of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.

“They definitely had the momentum,” said Storm catcher Tori Tollefsen, whose leadoff home run in the first inning was the game’s only run until the sixth. “Julia’s hit got us going.”

Gronholz’s success against the Trojans could be traced back to the first inning when she battled former summer league teammate Mia Kraimer and drew an eight-pitch walk.

“I struggled a bit the game before. To come in with a good at-bat gave me a little confidence,” Gronholz said.

New Prague senior Mia Kraimer pitched a complete game and went 3-for-4 at the plate. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

New Prague senior Mia Kraimer pitched a complete game and went 3-for-4 at the plate. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

First Report

Julia Gronholz sparked a sixth-inning rally with a two-out home run and Chanhassen escaped with a 4-3 home victory over New Prague on Tuesday.

New Prague struggled against Chanhassen starter Sydney Schwartz until the sixth inning, when the Trojans (1-1, 0-0) scored twice after getting a leadoff single by Mia Kraimer, a couple of walks, a passed ball, and an infield error, to take a 2-1 lead.

Gronholz, who had a potential home run nullified in the fourth inning when her ball hit the roof of the dome, tied the game with a blast to right field with two outs in the sixth.

Chanhassen’s Kenzie Miller singled and went to second on an error, and Daisy Lang doubled to right to score Miller as the Storm reclaimed a 3-2 lead. Singles by Piper Krych and Mary Maus plated a third run and Chanhassen (2-0, 0-0) took a 4-2 lead into the seventh.

Singles by Kennedy Buckman and Maggie Vivant pulled New Prague within a run in the top of the seventh but Schwartz got Avery Marsh to fly out to center field to end the game.

Schwartz pitched a complete game, striking out eight while giving up eight hits, three walks and two earned runs.

Kraimer stuck out two and surrendered nine hits for the Trojans. She was 3-for-4 with a double at the plate.

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