Continuing their dominance over Madelia, the team that upset them in the playoffs last year, the Clipper girls easily defeated the visiting Blackhawks for the third time this season on Tuesday.
Hailey Plonsky tossed all five innings for the 11-1, team-effort win.
Sophie Shouler led off the bottom of the first with a single. Kaylee Karels followed up with a single, and both scored on a Cassandra Connor single. Lexy Waldron got on board on an error and scored on a Keira Schipper single, and the Clippers were quickly in front 4-0.
Leading off the second, Emma Sweere got on board on an error. Karels singled again, and everyone crossed the plate when Connor sent the first pitch over the fence.
The Clippers made it 8-9 in the third when Harley Connor hit into an error, and scored after a couple of runaway pitches.
Harley Connor led off the fifth with a double and scored when Shouler also doubled. Karels got on board after an infield error, and both scored when Cassandra Connor hit into another infield error for a walk-off win.
The Blackhawk’s lone run came in the fourth on a single followed by an RBI double. The Clippers got out of the inning when Plonsky snared a line drive and tossed it to Hollerich at first to catch the runner off base.
Aggressive a the plate, the Clippers fanned six times and never walked. Waldron singled in the second, and Cassandra Connor and Laci Hollerich each singled in the fourth to account for the rest of the Clippers’ 10 hits.
Plonsky struck out two, walked two, beaned three and gave up five hits.
Madelia suffered five errors. The Clippers errored once.
Thursday’s game against St. Clair/Loyola was postponed due to a wet field. If the rain lets up, the Clippers are scheduled to play at a tournament in Janesville today (Saturday) with a game at noon.
Above: Emma Sweere tosses a quick relay on a line drive to the fence. Beside her is Kaylee Karels.
Hailey Plonsky went the distance.
Harley Connor gathers a wild pitch at the back stop, turns, takes a quick step and dives to intercept the running coming from 3rd base for an out.
Al photos courtesy of Jeff Sweere.