While a victory and a “Happy Birthday” serenade from his team made for a memorable season opener for head softball coach Mike Barten, he might have aged a couple of years in Truman on Tuesday.
Keeping Barten on the edge, his Clippers trailed Granada-Huntly-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther most of the game, regained a lead in the seventh and, with a rookie eighth-grade pitcher in the circle in relief, managed to just hang on for an 8-7 triumph.
“I told the girls it was one of the better birthday presents I ever had,” said the second-year coach. “It was fun to get out under the lights and watch them start out with the lead, get down and battle back against a team that I think will win a lot of games.”
In the seventh, top-of-the-order Sophie Shouler ended a 3-4 day at the plate in a big way when she led off the inning by airmailing the ball over the left-field fence. With the senior’s homer, the Clippers broke a 6-6 tie and took back a lead they lost in the third.
Later in the seventh, the Clippers got an insurance run they would end up needing after the Jaguars committed a pair of errors, their only miscues in the outing.
Cassandra Connor’s comebacker got her to second base when the pitcher’s low throw got by the first baseman. Eighth grader Keira Schipper’s hit down the right field line glanced off the fielder’s glove to score Connor from second.
With the top of the order leading off the seventh with a single, the Jaguars were poised to come back again, but Delaney Thompson, who had made a huge leap from the seventh-grade team last season to varsity this year, responded with a strikeout, and shortstop Shouler grabbed a line drive for out two.
While Barten said Thompson is hard to read, something he values in a pitcher, he thought she kept her cool, despite her facing a stressful situation in her first ever varsity game.
“I know Delaney has played a lot of softball with the Peppers, and her mom and dad pushed her hard in the off season. She has thrown a lot of pitches this winter to get better, and I thought her composure was pretty good.”
But on the inside, Thompson was feeling the pressure.
“It was so scary, but I knew I had a team behind me to field, and knowing we had a lead after the home run and the other hits…that was helpful.”
While the Jaguars responded with a two-out RBI double, it looked like the game would be over when the cleanup hitter skied a Thompson pitch over the infield, but it caromed off a Clipper glove for new life. Kaylee Karels made a nice catch on a hard-hit ball to center though to halt the uprising and preserve the Clipper triumph.
"We have some rust to knock off, but it is a great way to start the season," Barton said.
The Clippers—who had practiced outside for the first time only a day earlier when they scrimmaged host Janesville—scored one run in each of the first three innings to go in front 3-0.
In the game’s first at bat, Shouler tripled. She scored on a Laci Hollerich double.
The Clippers manufactured another run in the second when Greta Hahn walked, copped second and third and scored on a passed ball. Shouler led off the third with a single and scored on passed balls.
The Jaguars rallied in their half of the third though to take a 4-3 lead. The first two batters hit grounders just out of reach of shortstop Shouler. One run came in after a pair of passed balls. Another run scored on a double with a Clipper error tacked on. After a pair of fielder’s choices, the Jags dropped a hit into left field, that, with another Cleveland miscue, added two more runs.
After a scoreless fourth and top of the fifth, the Jaguars posted two more runs in their half of the fifth on a base hit with an error, a bunt where the Clippers held the runner on third, an RBI ground out, and, after Thompson took over for starting pitcher Hailey Plonsky, a single for another run and a 6-3 advantage.
But the Clippers came back to tie in the sixth when designated hitter Connor doubled, Hollerich stroked a single to advance Connor to third, and Schipper dropped a hit just inside the right field line for a two-RBI triple. Karels tied the game with a hit to left field that scored Schipper.
Thompson fielded a comebacker for the first out in the bottom of the sixth. Karels in center field and Ava Hahn in left teamed up for a catch for the next out when a pop up to short center caromed of Karels’ glove and into Hahn’s for a circus catch.
Thompson walked the next at bat but recorded her first varsity strikeout when she whiffed the next hitter to retire the side.
The Jag's pair of pitchers allowed nine Clippers hits while striking out seven and walking three.
“I know we can swing the bat better,” Barton said. “We were a little bit slow to the ball. Baserunning we’re going to work harder on too.”
A double away from the cycle, Shouler hit a single, a triple and a homer. Hollerich had a single and a double. Schipper hit a triple. Cassandra Connor doubled. Karels singled and walked twice. Harley Connor singled in the sixth.
In her four and two-thirds innings, Plonsky struck out three and allowed seven hits and no walks. Thompson struck out two, surrendered three hits and walked one.
With Hollerich at first and Greta Hahn at second, the defense was rearranged slightly from a year ago. Schipper started in left field and was replaced by Ava Hahn but subbed in for Emma Sweere at third. Sweere has been recovering from a winter volleyball injury.
“We’re trying some new things,” said assistant coach Sandi Hollerich.
Like last season, Lexi Waldron staffed right field, and Harley Connor set up behind the plate.
The Clippers committed three errors but twisted a double play when Greta Hahn gloved a fly ball and relayed it to first to catch the runner off base.
Elsewhere in the Valley Conference, Martin County West downed St. Clair 15-2, and Madelia beat Nicollet 12-2.
In the JV game earlier, the Clippers won 9-2. In the circle, Jocelyn Bartell earned the win.
The JV and varsity Clippers travel to Lester Prairie on Thursday.
Above: Laci Hollerich and Greta Hanh congratulate Delaney Thompson after she got out of the sixth inning with her first varsity strikeout.
Kaylee Karels tipped the ball on this play, but Ava Hahn was there for the grab.
Kaylee Karels cheers on Sophie Shouler after Shouler homered in the seventh for a Clipper lead.
Eighth grader Delaney Thompson winds up for a pitch during her first varsity stint in the circle.
Greta Hahn squares for a bunt.
Keira Schipper sends a pitch down the right field line for a two-RBI triple.
Kaylee Karels connects for an RBI single that tied the game 6-6.
Head coach Mike Barten and the rest of the Clippers had lots to celebrate after their season-opening win.