Saturday’s varsity double header was more about benefit that surrounded it.
Through concessions and a silent auction, the event, “Step up to the Plate for Aiden,” raised money for both teammate Aiden Domras as he undergoes treatment brain as well as for cancer research.
And it was a busy day at the ballfields with hundreds there to let the Domras family know they are not in their struggle alone. All told, the event generated $16,439.
“We appreciate it so much,” said mom Debbie Domras. “It is why we live in a small community.”
But the Clippers stepped up to the plate literally too, first with a 5-1 win over JWP and then an 8-6 victory over Mountain Lake Area.
In both games, the Clippers had to come back from a deficit.
“I think we were resilient in both games,” said head coach Walker Froehling. “Miles (Tomaszewski) got off to kind of a slow start in game one and battled back. When he pitches like that, he’s going to be tough for anyone to beat.”
But the second game was the closer one. The Clippers took a 2-0 lead in the third but surrendered four runs in the fourth and another run in the fifth to trail Mountain Lake Area 5-2.
With their momentum lost, it looked like it would be a game in the L column, but the Clippers came up with four runs in the sixth to take a brief lead and then overcame a 6-6 tie after the top of sixth for the victory.
The four runs in the fifth came on a two-out rally starting with a Caleb Connor double. Batting like a senior should, Alex Kortuem traded places with Connor for back-to-back two baggers and scored himself after Braeden Smith slammed a line drive to center field.
Smith advanced to second on the throw home and scored after Kiptyn Coon also sent a line drive into center field. Keeping the hit parade going, Nolan Schlaak also airmailed a line drive.
Next up, Jack Mons dropped a fly into center field to score Coon. The rally ended when Coon got out advancing to third, but the Clippers were in front 6-5.
Kortuem took the mound from starter Mons in the sixth, but after a hard hit for an infield single and a stolen base, the Wolverines capitalized on an infield error to deadlock the game 6-6.
But after giving up a walk, Kortuem retired the next batter on a popup before striking out the next batter.
With the next hitter on a 3-2 count, Froehling, knowing the runners would be moving with the pitch, went out to the mound to see if the infield wanted to try a pickoff play, but Kortuem said “No,” and struck out the batter looking to limit the damage.
“He threw the next one over the plate and that was the main thing,” Froehling said. “I thought our defense played really well too. Braeden made some really big plays in center field. He looks very nonchalant. He just goes after it and tracks things down and makes it look easy.”
With top-of-the-order Tony Hollerich leading off the bottom of the sixth, the table was set for a comeback, and the Clippers came through. Hollerich doubled, Lyons singled and Tomaszewski drove a hit into center field to put the Clippers in front 7-6.
Poised on first, Tomaszewski sacrificed himself in a rundown with Lyons scoring on the play, and the Clippers led 8-6.
“The middle and bottom of the order turned things around in the sixth to tie the game up, and then we were able to turn things around,” said Froehling. “Alex pitched well, and we made plays.”
The Clippers lit up the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Hollerich led off with a walk, advanced to second on a Lyons single and scored on a Connor ground ball up the middle. After a fielder’s choice, Connor scored when Smith dropped a hit into left field.
But the Wolverines took the lead in the next frame after a walk and two singles loaded the bases. After Mons struck out the next batter for the second out, it looked like the Clippers might get out of the jam unscathed, but the next batter came up with a three-RBI double, and with another double, MLA led 4-2.
On a double, a sacrifice bunt, a walk and a single, the Wolverines added another run in the fifth before the Clipper top-of-the-order went to work.
With 15 hits, seven more than MLA, the Clippers were worthy of the W. Connor hit two doubles and a single. Smith hit a double and two singles and batted in two runs. Lyons had three singles. Kortuem and Hollerich each had a double. Mons, Coon, Tomaszewski and Schlaak all hit singles. The Clippers walked twice and struck out four times.
Mons, in five innings, allowed seven hits, five earned runs and two walks while striking out four. Kortuem, in two innings, allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out three and beaning one. Each team marooned seven runners.
Cleveland 5, JWP 1
Laying down four bunts, all instrumental in producing a run, the Clippers relied on the small ball to top JWP.
“Teams that go to state do it, so I am going to do it too,” Froehling said.
The Bulldogs, who came to town with a 10-4 record, led 1-0 after the first frame when starting pitcher Tomaszewski walked the first two batters before giving up a single and a run.
Trying to catch the runner at second, the Clippers errored on the play, but second baseman Kortuem whipped the ball to Connor at the plate, and Connor made the tag to prevent a second run. Tomaszewski fanned the next batter to limit the damage.
The rest of the game was all Clippers. They knotted the game 1-1 in the second when Hollerich, who made big moves in the lineup, from ninth to second during the MCW series earlier in the week and now to leadoff, jumped on the first JWP pitch for a single.
Hollerich said he likes to be in the top of the order because he sees more “junk” there, benders and off-speed throws as compared to the high percentage fastballs that pitchers serve to the less experienced batters.
Up next, Lyons hit into a fielder’s choice when Hollerich got caught in a pickle between second and third. But Lyons made it to second on the play, advanced to third on a balk and scored when Connor grounded a hit into left field.
With one out in the third, Lyons found a chuck of open terrain in center field. After Tomaszewski and Connor walked, Kortuem dropped down a squeeze bunt single that brought Lyons home for a 2-1 Clipper lead.
The Clippers manufactured two runs in the fourth when Schlaak led off with a single. Mons put down a sac bunt to get Schlaak to second base. Next up, Hollerich snuck a ground ball past the shortstop, and Urijah Hoheisel, now running for Schlaak, went to third on the play.
Hoheisel scored when a pitch that went astray, and Hollerich took third on the play. Continuing with small ball, Lyons set down another sacrifice bunt, and Hollerich scored on the squeeze for a 4-1 Clipper lead.
“We work on bunting in the cage,” said Lyons. “It’s the easiest way to get on.”
The Clippers scored their final run in the fifth. Smith hit into an error that set him up on second base and advance to third when Coon squared off for a sacrifice bunt. Smith scored on a Schlaak ground out.
The Clippers outhit the Bulldogs 6-1. With a pair of singles, Hollerich, a freshman, showed he was worthy of his spot on top. Lyons, Connor, Schlaak and Kortuem each had one hit and one RBI. The Clippers walked seven times and struck out 11 times.
Lasting six and two thirds innings before topping out his 105 pitch-count limit, Tomaszewski was dominant on the bump. He allowed just one hit and seven walks while ringing up 10 batters, including three looking. Kortuem whiffed the one batter he faced.
The Bulldogs left five on base, two fewer than the Clippers.
Tonight, both Senior Night and Parents Night, the Clippers will try to avenge an earlier loss when they rematch visiting Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther.
Above: The Clippers with Aiden Domras, from L-R: Nolan Schlaak, August Keltgen, Tyler Smith, Max Freier, Jack Mons, Kiptyn Coon, Johnathan Cink, Tony Hollerich, Caleb Connor, Carson Lyons, Alex Kortuem, Jeremy Miller, Aiden Domras, Jake Mueller, Pierce Lyons, coach Walker Froehling, Urijah Hoheisel, Brayden Seeman, Miles Tomaszewski and coach Alex Rogers.
Carson Lyons reaches out for a bunt.
With two finishes, Alex Kortuem had a good day on the mound.
Jake Mueller sets up to grab a throw to first for a putout.
Carson Lyons stretches for a throw to second during the game against Mountain Lake Area.
Braeden Smith uncoils on a pitch.
The silent auction. Businesses and organizations that donated in addition to many generous community members: Cleveland Fire Dept, Kasota Fire Dept, Cleveland Booster Club, The Sign Dept, Cleveland Courageous Hearts, Cleveland Junior Class of 2027, Lake Shores and More Realty, National Elevator Industry Inc, Cassie Vlasak- donated blanket sales, Terrace View golf course, Shoreland Country Club, Bulldogs Hockey families, The She Shed, Cleveland Legions Women’s Auxiliary, Glowing Hearth and Home, Hulsebus Chiropractic, Mankato Moondogs, Embrace Travel with Alisa!, Ponwith/PF Beef Co, Gretchen Rehm Financial, MN Wild, and Carpentry Contractors Company.
Meal deal. Serving are Andy Smith, Melissa Marks and Nikki Smith.
The basketball players who are also on the baseball team presented the Domras family with a $7200 check from the Coaches vs. Cancer free throw fundraiser.