Playing tight games is nothing new for Lakeville North. Going 13 innings might be a little unusual, but the Panthers have learned that if they hang around long enough, something good will happen.

Nick Spitt drove a two-out, two-strike single to left in the top of the 13th inning, scoring pinch-runner Rob Frederick from second to lift Lakeville North to a 2-1 victory over Maple Grove. The Class 4A quarterfinal game took 3 hours, 13 minutes to complete.

“We’re certainly the cardiac kids,” said coach Tony Market, whose team has played 15 games decided by two runs or less. “We talk to the kids about staying in the moment and not letting it pass them by. We just had to stay the course and play hard.”

Maple Grove took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but struggled at the plate after that. The Crimson had a terrific chance to win the game with two on in the bottom of the 10th, but Isaac Collins’ sharp grounder up the middle glanced of pitcher Luke DeGrammont’s leg. He picked it up and threw out Collins in a close play to end the inning.

“That’s a bruise I’ll want to keep forever,” said DeGammont, who was fabulous in relief of Billy Riach, who was equally fabulous in his starting role. Riach went 7 1/3 innings, giving up one run and striking out seven. DeGrammont followed with 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hit, no runs and nine strikeouts.

“That’s what Luke has done for us all season,” Market said. “He’s a heckuva competitor.”

Spitt said his game-winning hit was the result of staying focused as the game dragged on. But he admitted to losing his cool just a bit after reaching first base.

“I was just trying to put that ball in play,” he said. “It’s the biggest hit I’ve ever had. At first base, the coach was trying to say something to me, but I was so excited, it just went in one ear and out the other.”

Maple Grove (20-5) got a terrific outing from starter Brett Schulze, who pitched 9 innings and gave up six hits and struck out eight. One of those hits was a 6th-inning home run to Lakeville North catcher Nick Juaire, the first state tournament home run ever hit at CHS Field.

Nick Spitt’s two-out, two-strike single to left scored Rob Frederick from second base in the top of the 13th inning, lifting Lakeville North to a 2-1 quarterfinals victory over Maple Grove.

The Crimson put runners on second and third in the bottom of the 13th, but could not get the hit to score the tying run.

The game took 3:13 to complete.

Check back later for more on the game.