Rally in the Substate 8 Tournament
The Champlin Park American Legion baseball squad improved to a perfect record in the double‑elimination Substate 8 tournament on Tuesday, defeating the St. Michael Mikes 5‑3 in Princeton, Minnesota. The win underscores the team’s resilience as it advances toward the championship round.
St. Michael drew first blood, plating three runs in the top of the second inning to take a 3‑0 lead. The early onslaught set the stage for a dramatic comeback that would test both teams’ composure.
Champlin Park answered with a four‑run burst in the bottom of the second, flipping the momentum and taking a 4‑3 advantage. The rally was anchored by timely hitting and aggressive base running that caught the Mikes off guard.
The turning point arrived when Dillon McNamara stepped up and delivered an RBI double in the third inning, extending the lead to 5‑3. His hit exemplified the team’s poise under pressure and added a crucial insurance run.
With the victory, Champlin Park remains the only unbeaten team left in the tournament, a testament to its depth and resilience. The squad now looks to carry this momentum into the next stage of competition.