Sometimes, you just have to go for it. On Saturday, after not playing for an entire week due to numerous weather-induced cancelations, the Clippers were more than eager to get the taste of the three Myrtle losses out of their mouths. And, with the lack of games for both teams, Columbiana and Heartland Christian decided to turn the one scheduled game into two. Both Coach Frankens hit the field at 8:00 AM to get it prepped after a full week of precipitation. Now, there wasn’t much that could be done about the outfield, which was in pretty rough shape but did not turn out to be a major issue in either game. Not many schools got to play even one game yesterday; we got to play, and WIN, two!
The games themselves were a perfect example of why baseball is such a great sport. One game, it looked like one team, the Clippers were worlds better than the other, the Lions. However, it was already known that this was not the case, as the well-coached Lions are a perennial Division 4 Northeast District competitor, and they were not going to go away easily. The second game of the doubleheader was absolutely a “backyard brawl,” that would go on to finish in wild fashion.
Senior righty Alex Eusebio got the ball for the Clips in Game #1, marking his third start of the season. And, he was nothing short of dominant in his four innings of work, allowing just one hit (a little flair to right field) and no runs. He also added three strikeouts to season to total. Alex earned his second win of the season, and thirteenth of his career. Senior Devin Daugherty would come on to get some work in the fifth inning for his first appearance of the year, and all he did was go 1-2-3, striking out all three batters he faced, to seal the mercy rule 13-0 victory for Columbiana in Game #1. At the plate, four Clippers had a pair of hits: seniors Ian Less, Alex Eusebio, and Anthony Hall along with freshman Avery Young. Less would have the only extra base hit in the game; a double to get the game started. Seniors Devin Daugherty and Cam Clancy each added hits to the total, as well. Clancy, along with the freshman Young, would each have three RBIs in the game. But, it was senior Anthony Hall who led Columbiana at the plate in Game #1, who came through with not one, but two 2-RBI singles in the first and fourth innings; giving Hall four RBIs for the game. Anthony also swiped three bases in Game #1.
As mentioned, Game #1 and Game #2 were two different stories, but the good thing is, the Clippers came away with the victory in both. After taking Game #1 but a thirteen run margin, Game #2 would come down to the wire with Columbiana winning by just one run, in an 8-7 final. Freshman Avery Young took the hill for the Clippers, marking his first career start. Young was very impressive in his four innings of work, and although three runs were scored in his time on the bump, none of them were earned runs. Young would get his first career strikeout to end the first inning; he would finish with four strikeouts on the day. And, being the the Clippers never surrendered the lead after his exit, Avery would go on to get his first career win. Junior Reese Roush came on for one and a third innings, holding the lead, and he would relieved by sophomore Sam Inboden, who went one and two-thirds innings to earn his first career save. With things starting to look bad, and the Clips holding tight to a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning, the sophomore Inboden came in and induced a ground ball double play to senior second baseman Cam Clancy, who stepped on the bag and fired to first where senior first baseman Anthony Hall made an excellent scoop to end the Lions’ threat. Columbiana would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it an 8-5 lead. But, the Lions of Heartland Christian showed no quit, and things got a little crazy in the top of the seventh. The Lions would score a run to make it an 8-6 deficit, and with two outs and the bases loaded (the tying run on second base), the Clippers had to buckle down. After some great pitches by Inboden that certainly should have ended the game, it would actually be a very high IQ play by senior third baseman Alex Eusebio that would seal things for Columbiana. Sam got a weak bouncer from the Lions’ two-hitter to Eusebio at third… However, Eusebio, with the weak contact, did not have a shot to throw and get the out at first base. Inboden, who was taken that way off the mound and was already over near third base, where a Lion rounded third very hard. Eusebio faked the throw to first base, turned around, and fired to Inboden at third who tagged the runner out to end the game and seal the victory for the Clips. The official final score would actually be 8-7, as a run did score before the tag was made, as it was no longer a force. But, it was a win for the Clippers nonetheless, giving Columbiana two wins over Heartland Christian on the day. At the plate, the Clips put nine hits together: three from junior Max Conway, two from senior Ian Less (one of which was another hustle double), one from sophomore Hunter Davanzo (a smoked double down the left field line in the fifth inning) marking his first career hit, as well as one single a piece from seniors Alex Eusebio, Colin Keleman, and Cam Clancy. Eusebio and fellow senior Devin Daugherty each stole three bases, and both scored multiple runs.
After not playing for a week, and the coming week’s forecast not looking spectacular, it was great just for the Clippers to get to play… And getting to play two and winning both to get back to a .500 record made it one hundred times better. This coming week, the Clippers will, hopefully, get to play Tuesday through Saturday; starting with Salem at home on Tuesday at 5:00 PM #UpUp&Away🛩️
Columbiana Clippers 
Sometimes, you just have to go for it. On Saturday, after not playing for an entire week due to numerous weather-induced cancelations, the Clippers were more than eager to get the taste of the three Myrtle losses out of their mouths. And, with the lack of games for both teams, Columbiana and Heartland Christian decided to turn the one scheduled game into two. Both Coach Frankens hit the field at 8:00 AM to get it prepped after a full week of precipitation. Now, there wasn’t much that could be done about the outfield, which was in pretty rough shape but did not turn out to be a major issue in either game. Not many schools got to play even one game yesterday; we got to play, and WIN, two!
The games themselves were a perfect example of why baseball is such a great sport. One game, it looked like one team, the Clippers were worlds better than the other, the Lions. However, it was already known that this was not the case, as the well-coached Lions are a perennial Division 4 Northeast District competitor, and they were not going to go away easily. The second game of the doubleheader was absolutely a “backyard brawl,” that would go on to finish in wild fashion.
Senior righty Alex Eusebio got the ball for the Clips in Game #1, marking his third start of the season. And, he was nothing short of dominant in his four innings of work, allowing just one hit (a little flair to right field) and no runs. He also added three strikeouts to season to total. Alex earned his second win of the season, and thirteenth of his career. Senior Devin Daugherty would come on to get some work in the fifth inning for his first appearance of the year, and all he did was go 1-2-3, striking out all three batters he faced, to seal the mercy rule 13-0 victory for Columbiana in Game #1. At the plate, four Clippers had a pair of hits: seniors Ian Less, Alex Eusebio, and Anthony Hall along with freshman Avery Young. Less would have the only extra base hit in the game; a double to get the game started. Seniors Devin Daugherty and Cam Clancy each added hits to the total, as well. Clancy, along with the freshman Young, would each have three RBIs in the game. But, it was senior Anthony Hall who led Columbiana at the plate in Game #1, who came through with not one, but two 2-RBI singles in the first and fourth innings; giving Hall four RBIs for the game. Anthony also swiped three bases in Game #1.
As mentioned, Game #1 and Game #2 were two different stories, but the good thing is, the Clippers came away with the victory in both. After taking Game #1 but a thirteen run margin, Game #2 would come down to the wire with Columbiana winning by just one run, in an 8-7 final. Freshman Avery Young took the hill for the Clippers, marking his first career start. Young was very impressive in his four innings of work, and although three runs were scored in his time on the bump, none of them were earned runs. Young would get his first career strikeout to end the first inning; he would finish with four strikeouts on the day. And, being the the Clippers never surrendered the lead after his exit, Avery would go on to get his first career win. Junior Reese Roush came on for one and a third innings, holding the lead, and he would relieved by sophomore Sam Inboden, who went one and two-thirds innings to earn his first career save. With things starting to look bad, and the Clips holding tight to a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning, the sophomore Inboden came in and induced a ground ball double play to senior second baseman Cam Clancy, who stepped on the bag and fired to first where senior first baseman Anthony Hall made an excellent scoop to end the Lions’ threat. Columbiana would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it an 8-5 lead. But, the Lions of Heartland Christian showed no quit, and things got a little crazy in the top of the seventh. The Lions would score a run to make it an 8-6 deficit, and with two outs and the bases loaded (the tying run on second base), the Clippers had to buckle down. After some great pitches by Inboden that certainly should have ended the game, it would actually be a very high IQ play by senior third baseman Alex Eusebio that would seal things for Columbiana. Sam got a weak bouncer from the Lions’ two-hitter to Eusebio at third… However, Eusebio, with the weak contact, did not have a shot to throw and get the out at first base. Inboden, who was taken that way off the mound and was already over near third base, where a Lion rounded third very hard. Eusebio faked the throw to first base, turned around, and fired to Inboden at third who tagged the runner out to end the game and seal the victory for the Clips. The official final score would actually be 8-7, as a run did score before the tag was made, as it was no longer a force. But, it was a win for the Clippers nonetheless, giving Columbiana two wins over Heartland Christian on the day. At the plate, the Clips put nine hits together: three from junior Max Conway, two from senior Ian Less (one of which was another hustle double), one from sophomore Hunter Davanzo (a smoked double down the left field line in the fifth inning) marking his first career hit, as well as one single a piece from seniors Alex Eusebio, Colin Keleman, and Cam Clancy. Eusebio and fellow senior Devin Daugherty each stole three bases, and both scored multiple runs.
After not playing for a week, and the coming week’s forecast not looking spectacular, it was great just for the Clippers to get to play… And getting to play two and winning both to get back to a .500 record made it one hundred times better. This coming week, the Clippers will, hopefully, get to play Tuesday through Saturday; starting with Salem at home on Tuesday at 5:00 PM #UpUp&Away🛩️
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