Working the outside edge and getting the strike calls there too, Faribault Bethlehem Academy’s pitcher mostly kept the varsity Clipper girls beating the ball into the dirt or sending it skyward.
But behind Delaney Thompson’s 15 strikeouts and a couple of hits when they had runners in scoring position, the Clippers topped the visiting Cardinals 4-1 on Tuesday.
“We struggled getting our bats going,” said head coach April Thompson. “Their pitcher threw a lot of strikes. The outside corners are a struggle for us. We do a lot of T work trying to get to the outside corners. The ump called more strikes outside then inside.”
The Clippers powered up the scoreboard in the third when Kaitlyn Flowers looped a double near the rightfield line. A birthday preset to her older sister, Natalie Flowers sent a line drive into rightfield for the RBI.
“We were trying to work on taking it to rightfield,” Thompson said. “Put the bat out and take it to rightfield on those outside pitches.”
The Cardinals’ shortstop couldn’t get a glove on Keira Schipper’s grounder. When she finally got a handle on it, her throw sailed over the first baseman’s glove for two errors on the play and two runners in scoring position. On a Brooke Bosse sacrifice fly, Natalie Flowers crossed the plate for a 2-0 Clipper advantage.
The Cards, who came into the game with a 2-4 record, scored their lone run in the fourth on a double followed by a single where the runner scored when the throw to third flew into the outfield.
The Clippers added a couple of Liberty Mutual runs in the fifth when Natalie Flowers FedExed a hit into center field for double. Schipper got a free pass, and Flowers scored on a Bosse single. Schipper scored when Hadley Thompson hit into an error.
“It’s good to have a close game,” Thompson said. “As we go through the season, we’re going to have better pitches, and we’re not going to have 18 runs.”
The Clippers outhit BA 6-3, walked twice and struck out four times. Natalie Flowers led the offense with a pair of singles and a two bagger for a three-for-three night at the plate. Kaitlyn Flowers had a double. Bosse and Hadley Thompson each had a single. Bosse had two RBIs. Natalie Flowers had one RBI.
Delaney Thompson threw all seven innings. BA committed two errors, one more than the Clippers.
The Clippers will have to bring their A game and especially their hitting shoes when they travel to Welcome today (Thursday) to take on 8-0 Martin County West in a double header. The Mavericks, ranked fourth in the state, have only allowed two runs all season.
Above: While her older sister Delaney took care of business in the circle, Hadley Thompson, from her spot on third base, made three putout throws to first.
The summer youth teams were recognized before the game…
…and after posed for a photo with the varsity girls, and…
…got a pep talk from head varsity coach April Thompson.