Delaney Thompson and the Clipper defense mowed down about everything but the outfield grass, their offense racked up 11 hits, and together they downed visiting Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons 14-2 in the first round of the section playoffs yesterday (Wednesday).
As the fourth-seeded Clippers rolled over the Knights 17-0 earlier in the season, the outcome was not unexpected.
“We came in and got the job done,” said head coach April Thompson.
But today will be a tougher work schedule when they host fifth-ranked Sleepy Eye at 5:00 p.m. The Indians, like the Clippers, have a 15-5 record. They only lost to top seed and undefeated USC 3-2. They beat Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s 8-3 in the first section round.
“They are probably similar to us, where we have good games and bad games,” Thompson said. “But we will play one game at a time.”
Leading off the bottom of the first, Thompson got hit by a pitch. Ava Hahn grounded into a fielder’s choice and scored when Keira Schipper looped her first home of the year over the left-field fence.
The Clippers added five runs in the second on a Lacey McCabe single, an RBI triple off Thompson’s bat, a wild pitch that allowed Thompson to score, a pair of walks and a Kaitlyn Flowers two-RBI single.
The Knights went to another pitcher to start the third, but first up Brooke Bosse got hit by a pitch. McCabe walked, and Bosse scored on a Cecelia Gair single. Taylor Wolf walked, McCabe scored on a passed ball, and Hahn hit a two RBI triple and scored herself on a Schipper sacrifice fly for an 11-0 advantage.
In the fourth, Tayor McCabe and Bosse hit back-to-back singles. Both scored on a pinch hitter Kiya Sohn single. After Wolf got a free pass, Hahn singled to score Sohn. It looked like the Clippers might get the one run they needed to walk off with a 15-0 triumph, but the inning ended on a pop out.
The Knights managed a pair of runs in the fifth after a pair of walks, an error on a pickoff attempt at third for one run and a RBI ground out.
Thompson went all five innings. She struck out nine, walked seven and left five on base.
Nine Clippers had at least one hit. With a tres and a single and three RBIs, Hahn led the offense. Taylor McCabe had two singles. Schipper had a boomer and three RBIs. Sohn and Flowers each hit a single and batted in two runners. Thompson bashed a triple and had one RBI. Gair hit a single that scored a runner. Lacey McCabe had a single.
The Clippers walked five times, got beaned twice and struck out just once. They left four on base and committed the game’s only error.
Win or lose, the Clippers head to Caswell Park on Saturday for at least one game, two if they beat Sleepy Eye.
Above: Keira Schipper walks off the field after her homer.
