The Champlin Park baseball squad opened its Section 5AAAA playoff run with a convincing 12‑2 victory over Irondale on Tuesday night, a performance that underscored the team’s depth and offensive firepower.
A decisive fourth inning
An eight‑run fourth inning turned a modest lead into a decisive cushion, as the hosts erupted for multiple runs that left the opposition scrambling. Cal Ockuly sparked the rally with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, but it was the fourth‑inning explosion that sealed the win.
Christian Dull added two more runs with a timely single to right field, while Alex Berg capped the inning with a bases‑clearing double that pushed the lead well beyond reach. The trio’s contributions illustrated how the lineup can shift momentum in a single at‑bat.
Looking ahead, Champlin Park will host Maple Grove on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the second round of the 5AAAA tournament, a matchup that promises another test of the team’s newly forged confidence.
Ockuly’s clutch hitting, Dull’s speed on the bases, and Berg’s power surge not only contributed to the scoreboard but also signaled a balanced attack that could prove difficult for future opponents to contain.