Above: Laci Hollerich, Grayce Kortuem and Emily Kern all homered in the Clippers' 10-5 home win over MCW on Tuesday.
It wasn’t until after she circled the base routes, celebrated with her teammates at home plate and strolled back to the dugout that Grayce Kortuem realized her home run was a grand slam.
“I was like ‘I know there were people on base,’ and then I counted them in my head, ‘one-two-three. That’s my first grand slam!’”
Kortuem’s round tripper, which put the Clippers comfortably up front 7-0 in the third, was one of three home runs the Clippers would have in their 10-5 win over visiting Martin County West on Tuesday.
“It was a perfect pitch: nice and easy off the bat,” said the senior, who hit three home runs last year, two less than classmate Emily Kern.
Although she has always been a good hitter, like many of her teammates, Kortuem had been slumping so far this year, but the Clippers racked up 10 hits against the Mavericks.
“It’s fun to watch the girls gain confidence and get a good swing on the ball,” said head coach Mike Barten. “They are building on that, and it’s up and down the lineup; it’s not just the top or the middle. The bottom is getting on base, and that’s huge for us in winning the last couple of games.”
Lead-off batter Sophie Shouler singled in the first, took second on the play when the ball got by the right fielder, stole third and scored on a stray pitch. With one out, Kern arced a ball over the fence for a 2-0 Clipper lead early.
Leading off the second, Laci Hollerich turned a hit to the right field fence into a in-the-park homer.
“She turned on speed that no one has ever seen before,” said her mom and the assistant coach Sandi Hollerich.
Emma Sweere led off the third with a hit to deep right field for a triple. Ashley Connor and Hollerich each drew a walk. After a pitching change, Kaylee Karels hit into a fielder’s choice before Kortuem’s grand slam, the first for the Clippers since McKenna Robb (CHS 2020) hit one for a walk-off win against Mountain Lake back in 2018.
Back at the top of the order, Shouler doubled and scored after a pair of passed balls for an 8-0 Clipper advantage.
On a walk and double, the Mavericks posted their first run in the fifth. The Clippers responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth after Kern singled and Harley Connor walked. Both scored on a catcher overthrow after a Sweere single.
On a triple, a walk and three singles, the Mavericks rallied for four runs in the seventh, but Kern recorded her 10th strikeout to halt the uprising.
Shouler had a double, a single and a walk. Kern had a homer, a double, a single and a walk. Sweere had a triple, a single and a walk. Hollerich and Kortuem each had a home run and a walk. Harley Connor had a single and a walk. Cassandra Connor and Ashley Connor each had two walks.
Kern gave up eight hits and three walks. The Clippers were error free. The Mavericks committed two errors.
Saturday’s tournament in Nicollet was rained out. The Clippers return to action on Thursday when they host Madelia. On Friday at 5 pm they take on Maple River at Caswell Park in North Mankato. They play again at 7:00 pm on Friday and then on Saturday at 10:00 am.
Emily Kern recovered from a comebacker to make a putout toss to first.
Grayce Kortuem (right) was all smiles after her grand slam.
Shortstop Sophie Shouler coils for a putout throw.
Left fielder Kaylee Karels squeezes her glove after a running catch.