Maple Grove 14AAA OMGAA Storm Wins State Baseball Title

Coach Brett Christofferson can pinpoint the moment his team turned its season around.

The Osseo-Maple Grove Athletic Association’s 14AAA Storm baseball team struggled through the first month of the season, holding onto a .500 record. But while playing some of the country’s best teams a a national tournament in Omaha, Neb., at the end of June, things began to click.

“We really came together,” Christofferson said. “We played some of the best teams in the country. We really saw our potential.”

That effort turned their season around, and on July 24, the Storm won the Minnesota Sports Federation 14AAA state championship in St. Cloud.

The Storm went 4-0-1 at the state tournament, topping Elk River 12-6 in the championship game on Sunday, July 24.

But the journey began in Omaha.

After going 1-3 against premier teams from Arkansas, Illinois and Michigan, Christofferson said the team refocused. From that point forward, the Storm went 10-2-1 to end the regular season.

At the state tournament, that streak continued.

The Storm continuously showed signs that something special was happening throughout state, Christofferson said.

There was the come-from-behind, 6-6 tie against Waconia to start the tournament, which kept the team unbeaten. Then, the Storm topped rival Eagan 3-2 and beat Champlin Park 6-4—thanks in part to an over-the-back catch in left field by Jack Battaglia, which set the tone for a trip to the semifinals.

Then, in the semis, perhaps the most magical moment of the tournament came when the Storm started pitcher Austin Mathison against Waite Park at Joe Faber Field, which is named after Mathison’s great uncle.

Mathison pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and paved the way for a 7-3 win.

“I have a pitching coach, and he didn’t know the details like I did,” Christofferson said. “So when he said Austin was going to pitch, I quickly agreed. I knew it was a good sign to have him pitch, and I knew it was going to be a special moment for him.”

Christofferson said Mathison pitched one of his best outings of the year in the semifinal game, which propelled the Storm into the championship game against Elk River.

Following the 12-6 win, the Storm were state champions.

“Individually and as a team, we played to our potential,” Christofferson said. “One thing we’ve always asked the kids is to play a full seven innings, and what they gave us was five games in a row, and seven innings in each game. They gave us 35 innings in a row, and the result was a championship.”