After four-straight competitive games for the varsity Clipper boys, Cleveland 14, Heron Lake-Okabena/Fulda 4 in five innings on Friday was kind of like a min-vacation.
But it was a memorable contest for seniors Hollis Knish and Killian Kunkel. After his first varsity hit, which came in the fourth, Knish, who started in right field, beat out a ground ball to the third baseman for a game winning, walk-off RBI.
Kunkel, who played third base for the day, also collected his first varsity hit, and, in his first varsity mound appearance, fanned the batter he faced to retire the side in the top of the fifth and send the Wildcat offense packing.
While both have gotten time on JV but not a ton on varsity, Kunkel and Knish said they kept with the program as they enjoyed the company.
“They are some of the best people I’ve been around,” Kunkel said.
Knish agreed.
“It is the team itself. They’re good. The coaches are good. It’s just fun to be out here.”
The Clippers scored four runs in the first. Leadoff batter Tony Hollerich hit into an infield error on the putout throw, stole second and scored on a Miles Tomaszewski line drive into left field. Tomaszewski swiped second, advanced to third on a passed ball. After Caleb Connor walked and strolled to second, both runners scored on an Alex Kortuem sacrifice fly.
Up next, Braeden Smith hit into an infield error. Smith reached second and Connor scored on the play. Smith advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Kiptyn Coon single to left field.
They added two more runs in the second when Hollerich walked and scored on a Tomaszewski grounder up the middle. Tomaszewski stole second and scored on a Connor line drive to right field for a 6-2 Clipper advantage.
With the Clippers ahead 6-4, five more orange & black runs came in the fourth. A Kortuem hit to center field was good for a double. Smith reached first on an infield error. Kortuem scored from third when Coon hit into another infield error. Nolan Schaak sent a groundball single into left field for two more RBIs. Up next Kunkel airmailed a line drive to center field, and Knish singled to bring home Austin Tarkey, who was running for catcher Schlaak, and send Kunkel to third. Kunkel scored when Hollerich hit into a fielder’s choice to put the Clippers comfortably on top 11-4.
With three runs in the fifth, the Clippers invoked the 10-run rule. Carson Lyons led off with a walk and stole second. Smith got a free pass too. Lyons made it the rest of the way round the basepaths on two pitches that got by the catcher while Smith reached third. Coon and Schlaak waked. Smith scored on a runaway pitch, and Coon scored from third on Knish’s infield single for the W.
The young Wildcats, who came to Cleveland still looking for their first 2026 win, put up two runs in the first when the leadoff batter walked, stole second and scored on a single. The batter made it to third on the throw home from left field, and after a walk, reached home on a double steal.
They added another run in the third after two-straight walks and an RBI single. With a second baseman Hollerich flip to shortstop Kortuem and a Kortuem throw to Tomaszewski at first, the Clipper twisted a double play to limit the damage and end the inning.
Their final run came in the fourth on four walks, the last one with two outs, to pull within two runs of the Clippers, 6-4.
In the fifth, Hollerich struck out the first to batters before Kunkel, taking the mound like he owned it, delivered a ball followed by three strikes, the last one swinging, for the big K.
“I was very grateful for the opportunity,” Kunkel said. “I was a little nervous going into it, but I’ve been kind of training. I did not look good in warmup, but I turned around and told my team I was going to lock in.”
The Clippers totaled nine hits. Tomaszewski and Knish each hit two singles. Kortuem hit a double. Coon, Connor, Schlaak and Kunkel all recorded one single. The Clippers took advantage of eight walks and one hit batter. They struck out six times and left six on base.
Coon tossed the first three innings. He gave up two hits and four walks for three earned runs while striking out six, half of them looking. Hollerich took over in the fourth. In his inning and two thirds, he didn’t allow a hit and struck out four but walked four for one earned run. The Wildcats left five on base.
The Wildcats suffered four errors. Five of the Clipper runs were earned. The Clippers didn’t make an error.
On Saturday, the Clippers traveled to St. James for a tournament. They beat Triton but lost to St. James Area. See a separate story for a complete wrap up.
Above: In his first varsity stint on the mound, Killian Kunkel dialed in for a big K to end the fifth inning.
Killian Kunkel readies for a throw to third.
Nolan Schaak uncoils on a pitch at the elbows.
Braeden Smith took a pitch to the ribs.
Backed up by Hollis Knish, Braeden Smith runs down a fly to center field.
Carson Lyons stretches for a hit.
Hollis Knish starts a swing for the game-winning hit.
After the game, the Clippers posed for a photo. They include, from L-R, front row: Miles Tomaszewski, John Cink, Pierce Lyons and Creidin Lee. Back row: Jeremy Miller, Nolan Schlaak, Jack Mons, Tony Kortuem, Alex Kortuem, Hollis Knish, Kiptyn Coon, Brayden Seeman, Killian Kunkel, Caleb Connor, Carson Lyons, Austin Tarkey and Jake Mueller.