Horseshoes and hand grenades...
Losing in Alden on Monday, the Clipper varsity boys were as close to a victory as they have been all season, but a loss is a loss.
Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons the lead-off batter in the top of the first scored the winning run when he walked, stole second and third and scored on a passed ball.
The same scenario led to the Knight’s only other run, which came in the fourth.
Meanwhile, the Clipper sticks only whispered.
The first Clipper to get on base, Gabe Sullivan walked in the fourth.
With a single in the fifth, Nathan Seeman got the first hit for the Clippers. Kyle Connor doubled in the sixth for their only other hit.
The Clippers only got on base three more times, all in the seventh, Tanyon Hoheisel took a pitch for the team but was forced out at second when Seeman hit a fielders’ choice. Later in the inning, Jack Voit walked.
The Clippers fanned 11 times, twice looking.
Clipper pitching was solid, but it didn’t have a support at the dish.
Sullivan (above) started on the hill and went four innings. He didn’t allow a hit and struck five but walked five too. Blake Lyons tossed the last two innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and whiffed five.
Neither team errored.
A day later, it was anything but a pitcher’s duel when Madelia came to town and rolled over the Clippers 13-2 in five innings.
With his team trailing by three runs, Lyons led off the bottom of the first with a double, stole third and scored on a vagrant pitch. In the third, Connor walked, traveled to second on a passed ball, advanced to third after Sullivan singled and Hoheisel walked. Connor scored from third on a Seeman grounder.
The Blackhawks trio of runs in the first came after three-straight walks to start the game followed by a single and a sacrifice fly. They added a run in the second, all on walks and an error. A walk and error and a homer led to three more Madelia runs in the fourth. In the fifth they tacked on six more after three singles, two walks and an error.
The Clippers fanned 10 times, walked three times and managed three hits. Besides Lyons’ double, Sullivan and Kale Kelley each had a single.
Hoheisel tossed the first four innings. He gave up three hits and six walks while striking out four. Kelley took over in the fifth. He permitted one hit and struck out two. Looking for one out, Connor came in after Kelley, but he relinquished three hits and two walks before recording a strikeout to end the frame.
The Clippers errored three times while Madelia had no errors.
The Clippers return to action tonight when they host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial.
Photo courtesy of Patty Sullivan.