Taking over the mound in the fifth, Brennan Kortuem didn’t get a warm welcome from visiting Madelia on Friday.
With the game deadlocked 1-1, the first batter he faced hit a hard grounder past third for a single. The next two hitters flew out, but from there, Kortuem allowed a walk, and after a few wild pitches and a stolen base, a two-RBI single put the Blackhawks up 3-1.
But Kortuem’s teammates had his back when they rallied for five runs in the bottom of the same inning. The senior only gave up one hit the rest of the way, and with a 6-3 triumph, the Clippers avenged the 13-2 loss to the Blackhawks they suffered last season.
“When they scored three runs on us, no one got down,” Kortuem said. “No one thought we were out of the game. We rallied back. We scored five runs, and I pitched confidently with the lead.”
Kyle Connor led off the fifth with a line-drive single to left field (above) for his first hit of the season. Alex Kortuem followed up with a single, and after Nathan Seeman moved both runners along on a sacrifice bunt, Carson Lyons walked to juice the bases.
Helping his cause, Brennan Kortuem, up next, slammed a line-drive double to left field for two RBIs to knot the game 3-3. The Clippers took the lead when Caleb Connor smacked a double to left field to score Lyons and Aiden Domras, who was courtesy running for Brennan Kortuem, and the Clippers went in front 5-3.
In his third hit of the night, Miles Tomaszewski sent a hit to right field to bring home Jackson Shouler, who was running for catcher Caleb Connor, and the Clippers were suddenly in front 6-3.
Head coach Charlie Haugen said the extra batting practice some of his players take at the tender hour of 6:00 a.m. has been paying off.
“All their hard work before school and after practice has been paying off. We had great pitching and had some extremely clutch hitting. It was a total team effort and a blast to watch, and I was just extremely proud of the guys and their effort.”
After three scoreless innings, Madelia posted a run in the fourth with a base hit, a pair of passed balls and an infield error. With two outs, the Clippers almost got out of the inning, but the throw to first drew Kale Kelley off the base. Kelley swung for the tag, but the runner knocked the ball out of his glove, and the run scored.
The Clippers quickly tied the game though in the bottom of the same inning when Tomaszewski hit a line drive to deep center field for a double and Kelley dropped a hit into short left field for the RBI.
The Clippers scattered eight hits, four more than the Blackhawks. They walked twice.
With two singles and a double, Tomaszewski was three for three at the dish. Brennan Kortuem and Caleb Connor each had a double and two RBIs. Kyle Connor, Alex Kortuem and Kelley each hit a single.
Just like in the last game, the Clippers went with a one-two punch on the mound. Tomaszewski tossed the first three innings and gave up one hit and one unearned run while walking three and beaning two. But finding his way out of danger, he struck out eight and marooned six. Taking over in the fifth, Kortuem, who said his fastball was working for him, allowed three hits and two runs, both earned. He walked one and struck out three.
The Clippers, off to a 2-0 start, return to ISJ field tonight (Monday) to take on rival Mankato Loyola. With narrow non-conference losses to Maple River and BOLD, the Crusaders will be hunting for their first win.
