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Brainerd beats Champlin Park

By Ethan Olson, SportsEngine, 05/01/23, 7:00AM CDT

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The Warriors and Rebels each scored some runs late, but Brainerd held on to the lead.

First baseman Molly Wieland (52) scores a three-run double leading Brainerd to their 11-8 victory in Friday nights matchup. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

First baseman Molly Wieland (52) scores a three-run double leading Brainerd to its 11-8 victory in Friday night's matchup. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

The long travel down to Champlin didn’t seem to shake Brainerd’s confidence that has been growing quickly through the middle of this 2023 season. The Warriors took the game by the horns early Friday night, thanks to some all-around great hitting from their rotation.  

Entering the final inning up 7–1, the Warriors (10-1) looked to be cruising. But the game took a major turn when the Rebels (5-4) caught fire offensively, sparked by a two-run double by outfielder Ava Parent.  

Then it was Amanda Kotsmith who made one of the highlights of the night, ripping a home run that scored two more for the Rebels. All of a sudden, it was an 11–8 game and the Champlin Park dugout, who had been loud all game despite the score line, was going wild. But the Warriors’ consistent hitting throughout the overcast night proved to be too much for the Rebels to overcome.  


Champlin Park Rebels celebrate a two-run homer by Amanda Kotsmith (3) in the 7th inning. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

First Report

Throughout Friday night’s inter-conference matchup between Brainerd and Champlin Park, the entire Warriors team was excellent at the plate. And that high intensity hitting helped them build a comfortable lead through the early innings.  

Going into the seventh inning down 7–1, the Rebels (5-4) found quite the spark offensively. They knocked in seven runs, including a two-run double by Ava Parent and a later two-run homer by Amanda Kotsmith that got the Rebels’ dugout fired up.

But it was the Warriors’ (10-1) consistency at the plate that proved to be the difference maker. The away team registered four runs of its own early in the final inning. It was the cushion that the Warriors needed. Molly Wieland provided the final blow at the top of the seventh by crushing a three-run double, pushing the game out of reach for the Rebels.


Brainerd Sophomore Mya Tautges (27) pitched a full game helping Brainerd secure their 5th win of the season. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

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