With a 6-2 record, Class 2A Sibley East came to Le Center’s Ray Plut Field on Friday to take on the varsity Clippers, but, behind the arm of freshman pitcher Jack Mons (above) in his first start of the season and a hit disparity of 13-1, it was all Cleveland in a 6-1 triumph.
Mons checked in the lineup with only two other mound appearances this season, a pair of frames against Nicollet, where he recorded three strikeouts, one walk and no hits, and two and two thirds’ innings in Truman, where he totaled five strikeouts, one walk and three allowed hits.
So, it was understandable that he felt a few butterflies pulsating around his stomach before the first pitch, but, on a groundout, a strikeout, an error behind him and another groundout, Mons got through the first four batters unscathed.
“It definitely boosted my confidence, especially having the guys behind me.”
The Clipper offense, effective from the get-go with three runs in the bottom of the first, helped elevate Mons’s confidence too, and he and the rest of Clippers never glanced backwards.
“Sibley East is a really good Class 2A team, but Jack went out and threw strikes right away,” said head coach Walker Froehling. “If he can throw strikes and get guys out and our defense can make plays, that’s his biggest thing. Offensively we came out the first inning and had some hits go through, and then our players just started putting it on the barrel, and from there we just carried momentum.”
The first batter out of the dugout, Carson Lyons bunted his way to first and swiped second. Miles Tomaszewski pounded the ball at the shortstop for another infield single. Next up, Caleb Connor dropped a hit into left field to score Lyons from first.
Alex Kortuem laid down a sacrifice bunt, putting both runners in scoring position. Braeden Smith found a chunk of open turf in left field for an RBI single. Continuing the rally, Kiptyn Coon arched a hit into left field to juice the bases. Nolan Schlaak followed with a line drive single to center field for the RBI while keeping the bases loaded. The first inning ended on a double play, but the Clippers were up 3-0.
“We definitely left some runners out there,” Froehling said, “but we kept Sibley East occupied, and it’s a momentum thing; it carries over. Jack threw strikes and kept going and our defense played really well.”
The Clippers padded their lead with two more runs in the second. Patient at the plate, Lyons FedExed a 2-1 pitch to deep center field for a three bagger and scored on a Tomaszewski ground ball that skipped past the shortstop for a single. Tomaszewski purloined second, advanced to third on a Connor single and scored on a Kortuem groundout for a 5-0 Clipper advantage.
On back-to-back walks followed by a single, Sibley East’s lone hit in the contest, the Wolverine’s managed a run in the fourth, but Mons, mixing fastballs and hooks, halted the uprising with a fly out and a ground out to end the frame.
The Clippers canceled that run in the fourth when Connor and Kortuem each cashed in a free pass, and Connor crossed the plate on a Coon single.
Marooning seven on base, the Clippers didn’t get the clutch hit that might have broken the game wide open, but, with only two walks and four strikeouts, they put the ball in play. Coon was three for three. Lyons hit a single and a triple. Tomaszewski, Connor and Schlaak each pounded a pair of singles. Smith and Kortuem each added a single.
Mons allowed one hit and four walks while striking out four. He stranded seven runners. Connor left his spot behind the plate to take the mound in the seventh and fanned all three batters he faced. The Clippers committed three miscues while Sibley East was errorless.
“Jack only allowing four walks and keeping them off the bases is all you can ask for,” Froehling said. “Caleb came in and shut the door.”
The game was played in Le Center because the JH boys were on the Cleveland field, and, as Ray Plut field has lights, the JV team get in more innings after the varsity game was complete.
The day before, the Clippers were tied with visiting Mankato Loyola in the fourth before lightning postponed the rest of the game. It will be finished in the future.
After today's rain postponement, the Clippers are scheduled to take on host Madelia in a double header tomorrow (Tuesday). Madelia is off to an 11-0 start and is ranked among the top two Class A teams in the state. Last season, the Clippers won both games against the Blackhawks: 6-3, 3-1.
Third baseman Kiptyn Coon winds up for a putout throw to first.
Alex Kortuem lays down a sacrifice bunt.
Carson Lyons was patient at the plate before pounding a triple.
Caleb Connor tossed the last inning and Kd all three batters he faced.
Gavin Struck, Mason Kluntz, Tanner Simonette, Charlie Perkins and Nathan Seeman enjoyed the game from the stands of Ray Plut Field.
Alex Kortuem, Miles Tomaszewski, Caleb Connor and Braeden Smith celebrated the victory with some “Dr. Flavor” from the nearby Casey’s while keeping score for the JV game.