Although they decided not to compete in the state tournament, the U14 Clipper girls still competed in the qualifying rounds at Caswell Park in North Mankato over the weekend.
There on Saturday, they fell to Lake Crystal 6-0, beat Minneota 10-2 and defeated Mountain Lake 9-6. On Sunday, they rolled over New Ulm 11-2 before Springfield edged them 7-9.
The Clippers were coming off a split double header against host St. Peter at Jefferson Fields on Thursday.
The Clippers finish the summer season 28-7.
Springfield 9, Cleveland 7
Leaving nine runners on base, the Clippers didn’t get the clutch hit they needed to win their last game of the season.
They turned on the scoreboard in the second inning when Kylie Wobbrock and Kenzie Kortuem walked and Addie Sandhurst hit a single to load the bases with no outs. Wobbrock was tossed out during a flyout, but Lily McMillen got hit by a pitch to again load the bases, and Kortuem scored when Emily Baker reached first on a dropped third strike.
Springfield took the lead in the bottom of the second on a double, a single a stole of home followed by a walk, a hit batter and a three RBI single for a 4-1 lead.
The Clippers scored two runs in the third when Wobbrock singled and scored on a pair of infield errors. Kortuem crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Springfield responded in the same inning with three singles for two more runs and a 6-3 lead, but the Clippers pulled within a run in the top of the fourth when Baker reached first on an error and scored on a Natalie Flowers double. Flowers crossed the plate on an Anistyn Dauk single.
Springfield added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a single, an RBI triple, an RBI single and an RBI double for a 9-5 lead. The Clippers managed one more run in the fifth after McMillian and Baker walked and Flowers hit into an error and both runners scored. Blair Voit followed with a single, and the Clippers had the tying run on base, but Flowers got caught stealing home, a flyout ended the inning, and the game timed out.
The Tigers outhit the Clippers 10-5, which helped them survive five errors.
Flowers had a double and three RBIs. Dauk had a single and an RBI. Sandhurst, Wobbrock and Voit all had singles. The Clippers walked six times and only struck out twice.
Wobbrock tossed the first inning and a third. She gave up two hits while walking one, string out one and hitting one batter. Voit took over with one out in the second. She allowed seven hits while striking out three and walking none. The Clipper defense stranded three Tiger runners.
Cleveland 11, New Ulm 2
The Clippers put up five runs in the first and never looked back.
Leading off the bottom of the first, Flowers walked. Following up, Voit singled, and Dauk walked to load the bases. Kortuem walked for the RBI, and Sandhurst singled for another run. Dauk scored on a passed ball, and Kortuem scored on a Harley Samuelson ground out. After McMillen walked, Sandhurst scored on a passed ball, and the frame ended on the five-run limit.
The Vipers put up a run in the second when the leadoff batter doubled, stole third and scored on a sacrifice bunt.
In the same inning, the Clippers added four more runs. Baker led off with a walk but was forced out when Flowers hit into a fielder’s choice. Voit hit into a fielder’s choice too, but Flowers was moving on the play and everyone was safe. Dauk hit into an infield error, and Flowers scored. Voit scored on a passed ball, and Dauk scored from third when Wobbrock hit into a ground out. After Kortuem singled, Sandhurst swung for a base hit too, and Kortuem scored for a 9-1 Clipper lead.
The Vipers added a run in the third on a single and steals before the Clippers put the finishing touches on the victory in the fourth when leadoff batter Wobbrock hit into an infield error, Kortuem singled and both scored after Sandhurst sent a hard hit to left field.
The Clippers outhit the Vipers 9-2. They walked six times and struck out five times and left five of their runners on base. Sandhurst was three-for-three with four RBIs. Kortuem and Samuelson each hit two singles and brought in one run. Flowers hit a double. Wobbrock had an RBI.
Sandhurst hurled all five innings. She walked two and struck out six. The Clippers marooned four Viper runners.
Cleveland 9, Mountain Lake 6
Trailing the Clippers 4-1, Mountain Lake put up five runs in the fourth, but the Clippers responded with five runs in the fifth before a scoreless sixth.
Flowers led off the game with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a Dauk ground out. Mountain Lake quickly responded with a pair of singles to put up a run for a 1-1 tie going into the second inning.
Sandhurst led off the second with a single, advanced to second on a Samuelson ground out and scored on a Baker single to put the Clippers in front 2-1. They added two more runs in the third when, with two outs, Kortuem bunted her way to the bag. She scored when Sandhurst hit into an infield error. After Samuelson ripped a double, Sandhurst scored on a passed ball.
Mountain Lake’s runs in the fourth came on three singles, a double, a fielder’s choice and three Clipper infield errors.
Wobbrock, Kortuem and Sandhurst each hit singles to start the fifth with Sandhurst’s for two RBIs to deadlock the game 6-6. Next up, Samuelson slammed a triple to center field to bring Sandhurst home. A pitch hit Baker before Flowers singled, and Baker scored on a Voit ground out to pad the lead.
Mountain Lake went down one-two-three in the fifth and sixth, and the Clippers held on to the victory.
Cleveland outhit Mountain Lake 9-6. With three singles and an RBI, Flowers went three for four at the plate. Kortuem also was three for four. Samuelson smashed a double and a triple and had one RBI. Sandhurst had two singles and two RBIs. Wobbrock had two singles. Dauk and Baker each had a single and an RBI. The Clippers didn’t strike out at all, walked twice and got hit by two pitches. They abandoned eight on base.
Voit chucked all six innings. She allowed one earned run, struck out six and walked none. The Clippers stranded two runners. They committed four errors, three more than Mountain Lake.
Cleveland 10, Minneota 2
The Clippers took a 3-0 lead in the first when Voit doubled, Dauk singled, Kortuem hit an RBI single, and Sandhurst hit a two-RBI single. They added two more runs in the second when Baker walked and scored on a Voit double. Voit took third on the throw home and scored when Dauk sent a hit into left field.
The Clippers added two runs in the fifth. Samuelson led off with a single. McMillen walked, and both scored on a Voit single for a 7-1 Clipper advantage. Their final three runs came in the sixth when Sandhurst and Samuelson each got hit by a pitch. Running for Sandhurst, Kortuem scored when McMillen hit into an infield error. Samuelson scored when Baker hit into an infield error. Flowers singled, and Voit hit into an error with McMillen scoring on the play before time ran out.
Minneota put up a run in the fourth on a walk, a double and an infield error. They scored again in the sixth on two walks and a wild pitch.
The Clippers outhit Minneota 11-2. With two singles and two doubles, Voit was four for five at the dish with four RBIs. Dauk had three singles and one RBI. Sandhurst had a single and two RBIs. Kortuem had a single and one RBI. Flowers and Samuelson each collected a base hit. Baker and McMillen each brought in a run. They walked five times and struck out three times.
Sandhurst threw all six innings. She struck out six and walked seven. The Clippers stranded seven runners. Minneota suffered three errors, one more than the Clippers.
Lake Crystal 6, Cleveland 0
Lake Crystal cultivates talented pitchers, and it showed in this game where the Clippers didn’t manage a hit. They struck out 10 times. Only two batters got on base, both in the first. Flowers led off with a walk, and Voit beat out a dropped third strike.
After three scoreless innings, the Knights put up a run in the bottom of the fourth when the leadoff batter walked and advanced to second on a groundout before scoring on passed balls. On a walk, two singles, a triple and passed balls, they added three runs in the fifth. They posted two more runs in the sixth on a walk, a single and a steal of home before time ran out.
Wobbrock lasted the duration. She walked six and struck out four while surrendering six hits for four earned runs. The Clippers committed one error. Lake Crystal was errorless.
St. Peter 11, Cleveland 9
After being down the entire game, the Clippers were making a comeback when time ran out at the end of five. They fought through five errors, four more than St. Peter, and were outhit 8-5.
On a pair of singles, two walks, a Clipper error and an RBI ground out, the Saints put up four runs in the first.
The Clippers got one back in the bottom of the first when top-of-the-order Flowers hit into an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, to third on a Dauk ground out and scored on a passed ball. They added another run in the third when Voit singled, advanced on a Dauk ground out, stole third and scored on a wild pitch to pull the Clippers within two, 4-2.
But the Saints took advantage of three Clipper errors and a pair of singles to add five runs in the fourth for a 9-2 advantage.
Not rolling over, the Clippers reached their five-run quota in the fourth when Kortuem led off with a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a Samuelson single. McMillen got hit by a pitch and Baker walked to juice the bases before Flowers hit a hard ball to center field for a three-RBI double. Flowers scored on a Voit single, and the Clippers were suddenly within two runs, 9-7.
But the Saints took advantage of a single, a hit batter, a walk and an error to put up two runs in the fifth. In the top of that inning, Dauk walked, Wobbrock got beaned, and Kortuem walked to load the bases. Dauk scored on a wild pitch while Wobbrock touched the plate during a Sandhurst groundout, and the Clippers were within two runs with one out and the tying run at the plate, but the game ended on a strikeout and a ground out.
The Clippers struck out four times, walked twice and were hit by a pair of pitches. Flowers had a double and three RBIs. Voit had two singles and one RBI. Samuelson and Sandhurst each had a single and an RBI. The offense discarded three runners.
Sandhurst threw for the first inning and a third. She allowed three hits and two earned runs while walking four, hitting one batter and striking out none. Voit threw for two and two thirds innings. She gave up five hits, one earned run, one walk while hitting one batter and striking out four. The Clipper defense stranded two Saints on base.
Cleveland 12, St. Peter 7
With four runs in the first and five more in the second, the Clippers jumped out to a 9-0 start.
Flowers, Voit and Dauk each singled with Dauk’s for the RBI. Wobbrock doubled to score Voit, and Dauk scored on a Sandhurst ground out. Wobbrock came home when Samuelson hit into an error for a 4-0 advantage in the first frame.
Baker singled, Flowers doubled, and Baker came home when Voit hit into an error in the second. Next up, Dauk hit into an error too, and Flowers scored. Voit scored on a Wobbrock ground out. Dauk and McMillen scored on a McMillen single.
St. Peter came up with two singles, a sac bunt and a steal of home for a run in the second, but the Clippers were in front 10-1 in the third when Baker and Flowers walked. Baker got caught in a rundown between third and home, but Voit got hit by a pitch, and Dauk walked to load the bases. Flowers stole home.
On a double, a single and a steal of home, the Saints added another run in the third. The Clippers’ final two runs came in the fourth after a Samuelson single, an error on a McMillen grounder and a two RBI Flowers double.
With five singles, a walk and an error, the Saints rallied for the five-run limit in the fourth, but time ran out after.
The Clippers outhit the Saints 10-9. With two doubles and a single and two RBIs, Flowers had the hot bat. Wobbrock hit a double and had two RBIs. McMillen and Voit each had a base hit and an RBI. Dauk had a single and two RBIs. Samuelson, Baker and Kortuem each hit a single. Sandhurst brought in one run. The Clippers struck out twice, walked twice and got hit by two pitches. They left five on base.
Wobbrock flung for the duration. She gave up six earned runs and two walks while striking out three. The Clippers stranded two Saint runners.
Above: Anistyn Dauk winds up for a putout throw to first during the second game at St. Peter.
Kylie Wobbrock unleashes a hit on the St. Peter field.
