• MAPLE GROVE 6, CENTENNIAL 0: Not even one of the metro’s best pitchers could stop Maple Grove’s roll. The Crimson (14-0) scored four first-inning runs against Centennial ace Austin Malinowski, giving plenty of support to junior Mitch Bauer, who threw a complete game five-hitter. Malinowski entered the game with a 0.42 ERA and a metro-leading 65 strikeouts. But shaky defense and a strong outing by Bauer were enough to hand Malinow-ski his first loss of the season — despite giving up only two earned runs before departing in the sixth inning. Junior left fielder Brady Jacobs led the Crimson offense, going2-for-3 with a double and three RBI.

• WEST LUTHERAN 4, PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 3: West Lutheran remained undefeated (13-0) and took control of the MCAA Conference race with a walk-off victory. Riley Gehl‘s line-drive single to left-center in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Blake Molitor from third base with the winning run. West Lutheran pitcher Dustin Barth picked up the victory but had his streak of 30 consecutive scoreless innings broken in the fourth inning. “It’s very impressive to go that long without allowing a run, much less an earned run,” West Lutheran coach Marty Nelson said. Nelson added that, despite the Class 1A, No. 3 Warriors’ gaudy record, he is not concerned with his team succumbing to pressure. “We expect to go out and play well, but we don’t ever walk out on the field and take it for granted. And that’s a great way to play baseball.”