Rapidly bouncing back from an 11-1 season opening loss to host Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial on Tuesday, the varsity baseball boys toppled host Medford two days later.
Already with a triumph, the Clippers have equaled their wins from last season.
“It is great for our confidence to get a win early on in the year,” said first-year head coach Charlie Haugen. “We still have plenty of things to clean up and improve on, but I have been really pleased by this groups’ effort and dedication to putting in the work necessary to be a successful team. It was awesome to get that first win under our belts.”
The Clippers made a statement early when Brennen Kortuem stroked a double to left field and scored when, up next, Caleb Connor hit a line drive into center field for his first hit of a four-for-four outing. Connor stole second and scored when Braeden Smith hit into an infield error.
With two outs, the Tigers loaded the bases when starter Blake Lyons gave up a single, hit a batter and walked the next batter, but a groundout ended the uprising.
Kyle Connor led off the second with a single, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on an Alex Kortuem grounder and scored on another stray pitch to put the Clippers in front 3-0.
Lyons gave up four walks in the bottom of a the second, but he struck out the last batter to end the inning and once again maroon a trio of runners. Caleb Connor walked, stole second, moved to third on an error and scored on a Smith sacrifice fly to put the Clippers in front 4-1 going into the bottom of the third.
On a couple of walks, an error and a wild pitch, Carson Lyons, in for his brother, gave up a run in the third, but started a double play on a comebacker with a throw to Gabe Sullivan behind the plate and a Sullivan throw to snare the runner going to third. Other than a run in the fifth, that was it for Medford scoring.
The Clippers added padding in the sixth when Kale Kelley led off with a walk, stole second, moved to third on a pickoff attempt error and scored on a savage pitch. Blake Lyons singled, stole second, and scored when Brennan Kortuem hit into an error, stole second and third and scored on a Caleb Connor double.
Leading off the seventh, Miles Tomaszewski doubled and moved to third on a Kyle Connor grounder. Kelley singled to score Tomaszewski, and Alex Kortuem walked. Brennan Kortuem hit into an error that put him on second and scored Kelley and his brother. He advanced to third on a Caleb Connor single and scored when Sullivan hit into an error. Sullivan scored after singles by Smith and, batting for the second time in the inning, Tomaszewski.
In this game, there was much better execution,” Haugen said. “We were cleaner as a team in the field, and we were able to string some hits together. We are looking to get better every game, and this was nice to see. Our pitchers did a solid job and our defense backed them up.”
The Clippers outhit the Tigers 12-1. Tomaszewski and Smith each had two hits. Brennan Kortuem, Smith, Kyle Connor and Kelley each had one hit.
Aggressive on the paths between the bases, the Clippers stole eight bases. Caleb Connor stole three of them.
Medford committed eight errors, six more than the Clippers. Blake Lyons gave up one hit, struck out two and walked five. In his three innings, Carson Lyons struck out two and walked none. In his one inning, Tomaszewski whiffed two. The three batters that closer Kyle Connor faced either popped out or grounded out.
“The Lyons brothers, Tomaszewski, and Kyle Connor all did a solid job pitching in their first outing of the year,” Haugen said. “I’m really proud of all of them.”
The Knights already had three games in when Cleveland showed up in Lake Crystal on Tuesday, including a 2-0 win at Medford.
Brennan Kortuem started on the mound and did a solid job in his two innings pitched. Caleb Connor came in relief for two innings. Walks and errors led to most of the Knight runs.
“LCWM did a good job of putting the ball in play and they capitalized on our errors,” Haugen said. “It was a good place to start, and we felt very optimistic about the outcome, but we faced a very good pitcher who did a great job throwing strikes and mixing his pitches.
Cleveland’s loan run came when Smith walked and made it to third and scored on an overthrow to third. Also for the Clippers, Caleb Connor had a double, Brennan Kortuem and Tomaszewski each hit singles.
The Clippers travel to Alden to take on Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger tomorrow (Monday). The non-conference Wolverines are 0-4 and lost huge to Madelia.
Above: Sophomore second basemen Alex Kortuem funnels in a grounder as a Medford runner loops around.
Caleb Connor leans away from an inside pitch. He was four for four with a walk at Medford.
Blake Lyons took the mound for the first two innings at Medford.
Brennen Kortuem started on the hill at Lake Crystal. (Photo courtesy of Patty Sullivan)