
By Matt Brown
Correspondent
The Maple Lake Lakers split their games last week to bring their season record to 9-2 overall and 3-1 in the North Star League. They are behind Buffalo, Hutchinson, and Loretto, who are all a perfect 3-0 in league play.
Maple Lake 13, Rockford 6
The Lakers hosted the Rockford Crows on Friday June 7 and wasted little time getting ahead of their guests. Ben Clapp and Hunter Malachek scored off a sacrifice from Donnie Mavencamp and a single by Matt Bergstrom to grab an early 2-0 lead. Rockford was able to tie it by the third but Ben Goelz singled in Mavencamp to stay ahead on the board. Luke Fobbe, reliever Grant Mergen, and Riley Decker all came in in the sixth thanks to a two-run single from Mavencamp. The Crows rallied in the seventh to make the game close but two in the seventh and four in the eighth for the good guys put the game away. Logan Orazem got the start and Mergen got the win in a committee effort on the mound.
Dassel-Cokato 8, Maple Lake 7 (11 Innings)
Fans that came out for the game Sunday, June 9 got a lot for the admission price. Nate Johnson was inducted into the North Star League Hall of Fame. This honor is given to only a handful of inductees each year, Nate being one of two entering the hall this season. Johnson had a long career with the Lakers that included many deep tournament runs, highlighted by an All-Tournament Team nod in 2012 when the Lakers won it all. Nate was a solid presence in the field and one of the guys you really wanted at the plate when you needed a hit. From all of Laker Nation, congratulations to Nate Johnson!
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