A couple of defensive miscues led to the Clipper girls’ downfall at Caswell Park on Saturday as they fell 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth to Martin County West and, in the elimination bracket, 1-0 to second-seed United South Central in the last frame of an 11-inning marathon.
It was no surprise they would both be close games as in the regular season, the fourth-ranked Clippers split with MCW and lost to USC in the bottom of the eighth 3-2. Either of the two section games could have been the de facto championship.
But, on a bright note, no Clipper had to say goodbye after the season-ending losses. The team has no seniors.
“Next season starts tomorrow,” said head coach April Thompson. “But I am super proud of the team and what we were able to accomplish. Somebody had to lose, and in both games it could have gone either way. It was fantastic softball all day today. We’ll get them next year.”
After 10 scoreless innings, second-seeded USC walked off with a win after they led off the bottom of the eighth with a fly ball into left field for a single. The Clippers overthrew the throw to first on the ensuing bunt, and the runner made it all the way to third on the error with no outs.
The next batter bunted too, and while the Clippers kept the runner on third in check, she scored when the throw to first was dropped.
Both teams were strong in the circle. USC’s ace Mariah Anderson rang up 19 Clippers, while Delaney Thompson, who threw 141 pitches after directly coming off 115 pitches in the first game, sat down a dozen. Thompson gave up six hits and walked three. The Clipper defense stuck nine USC runners on base.
The Clippers only got two on base in 35 plate appearances. Keira Schipper’s fly to center field for a single in the 10th was the Clippers’ only hit. After it, the Rebels intentionally walked Natalie Flowers.
MCW 3, Cleveland 2
The Clippers struck first in the second inning when an error allowed a run to score. Brooke Bosse walked and scored when Annistyn Dauk’s hit got by the right fielder.
The top-seeded Mavericks answered in the bottom half of the inning with a single to right field with an error tacked on followed by a line drive single to right field that scored the runner from second and evened the game 1-1.
Martin County West moved ahead in the third inning when they singled and walked and hit an RBI single for a 2-1 advantage.
With three-straight singles to load the bases—first by Dauk, then by Addison Sandhurst and then by leadoff batter Thompson—followed by a Kaitlyn Flowers sacrifice fly, Cleveland deadlocked the game 2-2 in the fifth inning, As the other two runners tried to advance though, the Mavericks twisted a double play to end the inning and set the stage for late-inning drama.
With two Clipper outs in the top of the eighth, Natalie Flowers walked and Schipper singled, but the inning ended on a ground out.
The Mavericks led off the bottom of the eighth with an infield single. The runner advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and the next batter walked. An overthrow at second put the runner at third, but it looked like the Clippers might get out of the frame when Thompson whiffed the next batter for the second out.
But with a hit into center field, the Mavericks walked off with the win.
Thompson allowed three runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out eight. The Mavericks marooned five on base. The Clippers committed a pair of errors, one more than MCW.
Dauk hit three singles. Thompson, Sandhurst, Kaitlyn Flowers and Schipper each had one single. Bosse and Kaitlyn Flowers each batted in a run. The Clippers struck out five times, walked twice and left six on base.
MCW went on to beat Nicollet 7-2 in the section semi-final. Catching fire for playoffs, seventh-ranked Nicollet had upset USC 1-0 and NUC 4-3. USC went on to top the Raiders 2-0 in the elimination bracket and will face MCW tomorrow in the section championship. If USC wins, they will have to take on the Mavericks again to determine who is advancing to the state tournament.
MCW and USC accounted for four of the Clippers’ five losses this year. Third-seeded NUC was their other defeat. They finish their season with a 20-5 record.
Many of the Clippers are playing summer ball, Thompson said.
Above: With both contests so tight, small ball was a major factor. Here, Natalie Flowers bunts against USC.
Delaney Thompson had to hit the dirt to stop a USC comebacker. 
Kaitlyn Flowers forces a USC runner back to second.
Keira Schipper funnels in a low pitch during the MCW game.
Second baseman Taylor McCabe shows she completed a grab down the right field line while right fielder Taylor Wolf enjoys the moment.
With no players lost this year to graduation, the future is looking bright for the Clippers. Here, Hadley Thompson gets in front of a hit to center field.