As a cold, angry wind carried dust across the Cleveland softball field on Saturday, the Clipper varsity girls fell to rival Nicollet in a 15-11 season-opening slug fest before losing to United South Central 7-1.
Overall, hitting was a big factor in the Clippers’ downfall in the USC game as was defense in both games.
“I think our top of the order did a great job hitting,” said head coach Mike Barten. “They were attacking the ball. We just need to get confidence in the rest of the girls so we can be dangerous one through nine.”
It was the second time the Clippers had seen live pitching this year as they had a scrimmage earlier in the season. For many, it was the first time facing a varsity pitcher. While the experienced hitters did well against Nicollet, USC’s high-velocity pitcher befuddled the Clipper the entire lineup.
“She is one of the best pitchers in Southern Minnesota, no matter what the class,” Barten said.
Trailing 4-0, the Clippers’ lone run against the Rebels came in the fourth when Laci Hollerich hit a line-drive double into left field, advanced to third on a Cassandra Connor ground out and scored when Kaitlyn Flowers hit a pop fly that the USC infield couldn’t handle.
Hollerich’s hit was the only one the Clippers managed. They struck out 16 times and never walked. Besides Flowers, Ava Hahn was the only other Clipper to get on base.
“I just think we need to focus more when we are on the bench and getting ready to come to the plate, having a little bit more of a positive attitude,” Barten said. “If we fail, we fail, but let’s not think that going in.”
With a steady dose of runs, the Rebels scored once in the first, once in the third, twice in each the fourth and fifth and once more in the sixth.
Lilly Lamont tossed the first five innings. She allowed seven hits and one walk while beaning two and striking out four. In relief, Flowers, a freshman, gave up two hits, walked three, hit one batter and struck out three.
The Clippers suffered through eight errors, six more than USC.
“Defensively, the wind was tough,” Barten said. “We had a few balls that should have been caught but that wind affected. We had a couple of miscues, but we’ll clean it up.”
Taking advantage of two walks, a hit batter and a three-RBI triple, the Raiders took a 3-0 lead after the top of the second. The Clippers responded though. Greta Hahn reached first on an infield error. Taylor McCabe and Jocelyn Bartell were each issued a walk to load the bases for Keira Schipper, who found an open slot in center field for three RBIs.
Schipper made it to second on the play and stole third. Running for her from there, Anna Lamont crossed the plate on a passed ball to put the Clippers in front 4-3.
With a pair of singles, the Raiders threatened in the third, but Hollerich at first snared a line drive and stepped on the bag for a double play.
Keeping the pressure on, the Clippers added three runs in the bottom of the frame. Connor led off with a single. Flowers and Hahn walked. McCabe snuck a grounder into left field for two RBIs. Greta Hahn scored when her sister Ava Hahn effected the infield fly rule for a 7-4 Clipper lead.
But taking advantage of a walk, an RBI triple, an infield throwing error, a hit batter and a couple of singles, the Raiders scored six runs in the fourth and never looked back.
Barten said that if a team scores 11 runs, it should win, and that defense was the issue.
“Defensively, not making a play here or there and you have two outs and if you make a play, you are out of the inning, but you don’t, and they score two or three more runs…”
The Clippers added a run in the fourth when Hollerich reached first on an infield error, stole second, advanced to third when Greta Hahn hit into an error and scored on a Connor sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Ava Hahn singled, stole second and third and scored when Hollerich hit into an error, but the Clippers still trailed 11-9.
Ava Hahn led off the seventh with an infield single and Schipper followed up with the same. After advancing on a Hollerich grounder, both scored when Connor swatted a grounder to left field.
Nicollet outhit the Clippers 15-10. Going three for four at the plate with a walk, Schipper lived up to her top-of-the order role. Connor and Ava Hahn each had two hits in four plate appearances. Hollerich, McCabe and Lamont each had one hit.
Flowers pitched five innings before a comebacker hit her hand and knocked her out of the game. She struck out two, gave up eight hits and five walks and hit three batters. In relief, Lamont whiffed three and allowed seven hits and no walks.
The Clippers struck out nine times and marooned nine baserunners, one more than the Raiders abandoned. The Raiders overcame seven errors. The Clippers had three errors.
“I was hoping 2-0 today. I always think we can win,” Barten said, “But a lot of these girls haven’t played since last year, so we’ll knock the rust off and move on.”
The Clippers lost six seniors from last year, and so Barten shuffled players around a bit. Hollerich and Connor switched between third and first. Ava Hahn, McCabe and Flowers all took a turn at shortstop, a spot owned by graduated Sophie Shouler in 2022 and 2023.
Schipper took over for graduated three-year catcher Harley Connor behind the plate. Replacing last year senior Emma Sweere, Bartell was in left field against Nicollet and right field against USC. Taking over for last-year senior Kaylee Karels, speedster Ava Hahn was in center, and Lacey McCabe played right field against Nicollet. Eighth grader Cecelia Gair had a stint in left field. Last-year senior Lexi Waldron was the left fielder in 2023.
Last year, senior Hailey Plonsky spent the most time in the circle.
“We’re still trying to figure it out, but I like some of the things I saw,” Barten said. “We’ve got some athletes. Now it is just them getting used to fielding a ball and going after a ball and being aggressive.”
The Clipper softball program also had a setback when freshman Delaney Thompson suffered a knee injury in the basketball season that will keep her in the dugout all this spring. Thompson was expected to be the Clippers’ number one in the circle this season.
“Delaney has worked so hard to become the pitcher she has. She was pretty torn up by that injury, but she’s coming back. But my mentality is that it’s unfortunate she’s not here, but next person up. Right away we talked to Kaitlyn, and we talked to Lilly and said ‘more innings for you. Take advantage of it.’”
This time a conference game, the Clippers will have another shot at Nicollet when they travel Highway 99 tomorrow (Tuesday).
Above: Shortstop Greta Hahn winds up for a putout throw to third during the Nicollet game.
Cassandra Connor at third coils for a throw.
Lilly Lamont releases a pitch.
Ava Hahn sets up for a throw from centerfield during the game against USC.
Freshman Kaitlyn Flowers’ varsity pitching debut was the season opener against Nicollet. Last year, she pitched for the junior high team.