The shining smile of Champlin Park senior Noah Bouley did little to shade his swollen lip and the cut on his chin.

The injuries were not sustained during Bouley’s highlight-reel catch in the top of the second inning - one in which he secured the ball as he tumbled to the grass in shallow center field.

No. These wounds were a result of taking a ball to the face off a bad hop of sharp grounder hit toward the shortstop early in the game. 

It was the only miscue Bouley had in helping the Rebels rally for a 9-8 come-from-behind victory over Bloomington Jefferson on Friday at Champlin Park High School.

Tyler Schmidt scored the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning, scooting home from third once the pitch glanced off the glove of the Jaguars’ catcher.

Bouley was big as the Rebels battled back from two deficits to stay in the game. He scored one run in Champlin Park’s five-run fifth inning, helping the Rebels tie the game 6-6. Bouley had another when his team scored two in the sixth to pull even at 8-8.

Bouley, who has a team-leading five runs score this season, finished the game 3-for-4 and now has a team-best nine hits in 14 at-bats this season. He is the Rebels leader in batting average (.643), on-base percentage (.667) and slugging percentage (.786).

And he’s giving Champlin Park this production from the ninth spot in the order.

Rebels coach Cory Davis admits it’s difficult to keep batting Bouley that low, but said it’s also to the team’s benefit.

“He’s an awesome kid to have down there,” Davis said. “He loves it, so that’s a huge advantage for us to have him there.”

Bouley is quick to point out that he does not want to move into one of the premier spots in the lineup.

“Truth be told, I think I’d rather stay there,” he said with a laugh after the victory. “I’ll stay there as long as they need me there.”

Bouley may not be moving up in the order, but he will be moving on at the end of the season.

He and fellow senior Brian McGill have committed to Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., where they will play baseball next season. 

The V-Hawk could benefit from Bouley’s speed on the basepaths, a trait that has helped him record a team-leading three doubles and three stolen bases for Champlin Park this season. 

But Bouley isn’t the only fast Rebel, and Davis said he likes to use his team’s speed during games. The results have been successful as Champlin Park has 11 stolen bases and eight extra-base hits in five games.

The strategy was also on display when Davis let junior outfielder Riley Johnson steal home plate between pitches to tie the game 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Jaguars.

“That was one of those plays that if it doesn’t work, you look like a goat,” Davis said. “And if it does work, you look like a genius,” Davis added.

While Bouley is holding down the bottom of the lineup, junior third baseman Eric Pearson is finding his way as the third batter in the order.

Pearson, who drove in four runs in the win over the Jaguars and has a team-best six RBI, is trying to regain his groove at the plate.

“I haven’t been too hot lately,” said Pearson, who also competes in the Blizzard Elite Program. “So I’m just up there thinking about my pitch, getting what I want, and then driving the ball.”

If Bouley continues producing the way he has this season, Champlin Park may be on its way to returning to the state tournament for the first time since 2003. The Rebels were close last year, losing to eventual state champion Mounds View in the Class 3A, Section 5 finals last year. 

Champlin Park lost the top two pitchers from that team, but Bouley is confident that this year’s team can reach the state tournament. 

“We’re there,” Bouley said. “We’re going to be contending.”

Senior Tyeler Schmidt scored the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning as Champlin Park edged Bloomington Jefferson 9-8 in a nonconference game Friday night at Champlin Park High School. 

Schmidt dashed home from third base once the pitch glanced off the glove of the Jaguars' catcher and then slid across the plate to avoid the tag.

The Rebels rallied twice to stay in the game. They scored five runs in fifth inning to tie the score 6-6 and then added two runs in the sixth to pull even at 8-8.

Junior infielder Eric Pearson went 2-for-4 with four RBI and senior infielder Noah Bouley was 3-for-4 and scored two runs for Champlin Park (4-2). 

Senior Tim Munn earned the win in a relief appearance for the Rebels (4-2). Munn entered in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and one out, but quickly got the Jaguars to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Senior Noah Siiro went 3-for-3 with two RBI and Charlie Sweeney finished 2-for-3 for the Jaguars (1-3). Sean Bannigan drove in two runs, but the senior took the loss on the mound. 

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