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Maple Grove edges Centennial

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 04/19/22, 3:30PM CDT

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After both sides struggled early, the Crimson did just enough a win against their section and conference rival.

Maple Grove's Elizabeth Berry connects with the ball. Berry's solo home run in the fourth inning broke open the scoring after a hitless opening three innings. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Maple Grove's Elizabeth Berry connects with the ball. Berry's solo home run in the fourth inning broke open the scoring after a hitless opening three innings. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Coaches in every sport preach the importance of making adjustments before, during and after any game.

Adjustments were on full display when Maple Grove and Centennial met. Both teams are just getting to play outside for the first time this season, and both were facing tough pitchers. In the end, the Crimson made just adjustments as they defeated their Northwest Suburban Conference and Class 4A, Section 5 rival 3-2 on Tuesday.

With the weather being poor for most of April, many teams, including these two, have practiced inside either a gym or a dome. That means a different environment than the normal outdoor grass and dirt. The Crimson spent their time in a dome not dealing with the odd hops of dirt while the Cougars were in the gym, which meant their outfielders couldn’t get their normal practice.

Maple Grove's Dani Strom (15) finished the game 2 for 3 at the plate, scored a run and added the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning in the Crimson's 3-2 win over section rivla Centennial on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Maple Grove's Dani Strom (15) finished the game 2 for 3 at the plate, scored a run and added the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning in the Crimson's 3-2 win over section rival Centennial on Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

First Report

After Centennial defeated Maple Grove in last season’s Class 4A, Section 5 final, the Crimson exacted a little bit of revenge as Maple Grove went on the road and edged the Cougars, 3-2, on Tuesday.

Neither team could muster a base runner through three innings as the pitchers dominated. Crimson junior starter Maddie Wihlm picked up the win in a complete-game effort. She finished the game allowing two runs on three hits while striking out 10 Centennial hitters.

Cougar senior starter Helene Krage matched Wihlm early but ended on the losing end. She also pitched all seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out nine.

Maple Grove senior shortstop Elizabeth Berry broke the hitless deadlock in the fourth inning with a solo home run blasted to left field. Later that inning, Sam Gustafson made it 2-0 as she drove in Dani Strom on an RBI double. 

After giving up the game’s first runs, Krage took matters into her own hands as she blasted a two-run home run to tie things up at 2. 

The game remained tied into the sixth inning. Then, the Crimson broke through as Strom drove in the game-winning run with an RBI double. She finished the day 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. 

Centennial pitcher Helene Krage pitched a complete game and tallied nine strike outs.  Krage's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning scored the Cougars' only runs of the game. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

Centennial pitcher Helene Krage pitched a complete game and tallied nine strike outs. Krage's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning scored the Cougars' only runs of the game. Photo by Cheryl A. Myers, SportsEngine

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