In a gallant attempt at a third victory, the Clipper varsity boys posted five runs in the fifth to tie visiting Loyola 6-6, but scoring three runs in the sixth, the Crusaders took control after that to beat the Clippers 9-6 on Thursday.
For third baseman, Blake Lyons, it’s as tough to lose a close game as it is to fall by the wide margins the Clippers have been all too familiar with.
“We were in it. We started off slow but came back and had a good fight up until the end. It was a fun game, but it’s tough to lose both ways.”
Head coach Charlie Haugen said the loss to the perennial powerhouse was a disappointment but at the same time a moral victory for the Clippers.
“We battled. Just by being confident, we showed we can win those games, and it is something we can build upon for the year. We will have another shot at them, and we’re making steps in the right direction.”
Leading off the fifth, Brennan Kortuem sent a hard ground ball into left field for a single. Caleb Connor took a free pass.
Loyola switched pitchers, and Gabe Sullivan went down on a foul tip, but next-up batter Braeden Smith sent a hit down the left-field line to pack the bases. Next at bat, eighth grader Miles Tomaszewski rose to the occasion with a clutch double to left field for three RBIs.
Like his cousin, Kyle Connor also strolled to first as did Kale Kelley to again fill the stations. Alex Kortuem hit a grounder that the first baseman couldn’t handle, and Tomaszewski scored on the error.
Back at the top of the order, Lyons smashed a line drive to center field to bring home Kyle Connor. Up for the second time in the frame, Brennan Kortuem grounded into a fielder’s choice with Kelley forced out at home.
A ground out ended the rally with three runners stranded, but the Clippers had erased their deficit to stalemate the game 6-6.
But taking advantage of a walk, two singles and an RBI fielder’s choice, the Crusaders put up three runs in the top of the sixth and never looked back.
The Clippers couldn’t relive the rally as all three batters in the sixth grounded out. With a single, Kelley was the only one to get on base in the seventh.
“We had really good hitting and had some clutch hits, but we need to find the gaps a little more,” Lyons said.
With two runs in the first on a walk, an RBI single, and an error, the Crusaders jumped off to a 2-0 lead going into the bottom of the first.
The Clippers responded with a run when Brennan Kortuem walked, reached second on a botched pickoff attempt, advanced to third on a Caleb Connor grounder and scored on a passed ball.
The Crusaders went up 4-1 in the fourth on a single, a walk and another single. They added two runs on a walk and a pair of singles in the fifth.
Brennan Kortuem tossed the first four and a third innings. He struck out seven, allowed four hits and was charged with all the Crusaders’ first six runs. Taking over with one out in the fifth and two runners on base, Caleb Connor struck out three and gave up six hits and hit one batter.
The Clippers scattered seven hits and struck out five times. Tomaszewski had a double and a single. Kelley hit two singles. Smith, Brennan Kortuem and Lyons each had one single.
The Clippers only had one error. The Crusaders suffered four miscues.
Haugen said it was the best game the Clippers have played so far this season.
“We hit the ball. We put it in play. We had some mental mistakes here and there, giving them free bases, throwing to the wrong base, little things here and there. We just need to be locked in at all times, knowing where we are going before the play. At the end of the day, we’re going to make those mistakes, but it is how you bounce back after them.”
The Crusaders are typically the Valley champions, but they were coming off a 6-4 loss to visiting Martin Luther/GHEC/T.
The Clippers will look for a third win when they travel to Welcome tomorrow (Tuesday) to take on MCW.
Above: Shortstop Carson Lyons chases down a throw to second.
