Catching a pinch hitter looking, Hailey Plonsky (above) threw a dozen pitches before she finally retired visiting Sibley East’s last batter on Monday.
That concluding out, the last in a 14-6 Clipper victory, was a microcosm of the seven innings Plonsky spent in the circle, said head coach Mike Barten.
“It told the story of the day. She just battled. She threw 120 pitches, and 80 of them were strikes. You can’t argue with that. She worked hard today, and it was fun to watch.”
Laci Hollerich reached first on an infield error and scored on a Casandra Connor line drive single to put the Clippers in front 1-0 after one.
On three singles, the Wolverines scored two runs in the second to go in front 2-1, but the Clippers scored five runs in the fourth.
Harley Connor hit a two-out single. Kiera Schipper hit a double to deep left field to score Ava Hahn, who was running for catcher Connor. Emma Sweere followed up with an infield hit that brought Schipper across the plate. Back at the top of the order, Sophie Shouler found the gap in left field for a double, and Hollerich dropped a hit into short center field for two RBIs and a 5-2 Clipper advantage.
Scoring three unearned runs in the fifth on two hits and two Clipper errors, Sibley East knotted the game at five in the top of the fifth, but the Clippers rallied for eight runs in the fifth.
Kaylee Karels started out the rally when the pitcher couldn’t find a handle her popup. Lexy Waldron followed up with a single. Greta Hahn walked, and Harley Connor sent a hit up the middle to score Karels from third. Schipper also sent a hit up the middle and that brought in Waldron. Sweere reached first when the first baseman dropped the shortstop’s throw, and Greta Hahn scored on the play.
With the bases loaded, Shouler and Hollerich walked, scoring two more runs. Up again, Karels hit an RBI single. Shouler got caught between third and home, but Waldron sent up a hard hit that caromed off the pitcher’s glove to reload the bases, and Greta Hahn hit a two-RBI single that put the Clippers in front 13-5.
The Wolverines took advantage of a walk and two errors, one by the outies and one by the innies to post another run in the sixth, but the Clippers canceled it in the same inning when Schipper led off with a double and scored on a Shouler single.
The Clippers dispersed 16 hits and only struck out once. Facing a slower pitcher, they sent a lot of balls into left foul territory.
“I liked that the girls were aggressive, going after the ball,” Barten said.
Shouler and Schipper each hit a pair of doubles and a single. Hollerich, Waldron and Harley Connor each had two singles. Cassandra Connor, Karels, Greta Hahn and Sweere each had one single.
Plonsky struck out seven, allowed eight hits and two walks. With six errors, the Clippers didn’t help her cause a ton.
The Clippers hit the road for a rematch against Madelia tonight (Tuesday).
Shortstop Sophie Shouler readies to field a grounder.
Kiera Schipper winds up for a putout throw from third.
The team celebrated Parents' Night before the game.