There is something about a rivalry in sports that brings out the best in players. That is exactly what took place on Friday night, when for the first time in seven years, the Clippers were able to play their cross-town rival Crestview Rebels. The venue for the spectacle was Eastwood Field in Niles (home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Youngstown State Penguins). As, quote, “one of highest attended high school games” Eastwood has ever had, it was certainly the best show in town; and the teams certainly put on quite a show.
The night began with the JV teams going head-to-head. For Coach Wilson’s squad, freshman David Masters was masterful in his performance on the hill. Even cooler, he had the opportunity to pitch to his old brother, Eli, who was the catcher in the game. David went four strong shutout innings before handing the ball over to junior Will Ward to finish it out (the game would only go five innings due to the Clippers run-ruling the Rebels in a 15-3 final). Eli Masters would have two hits in the game, as would fellow junior Blake Unger (one of which was a triple to the left field wall). Sophomore Sam Inboden and freshman Rocco Mediate also had two hits apiece. Inboden, like Unger, had a triple, and Mediate also added a sacrifice fly to his line. Sophomore Lucas Barber also hit a triple in the game.
After the JV team started the night right, it was the Varsity’s turn to keep the good times rolling. Senior Alex Eusebio got the ball for the Clippers against his Rebel counterpart Ethan Feezle. Eusebio and Feezle have played on summer teams together for years, but this was their first opportunity to ever face each other in a high school game. And, in the very first inning, the two did not disappoint. But, it would be the second inning that would be the difference in the game.
After senior Colin Keleman drew a leadoff walk, junior Zane Strohecker came on to run. Zane would go on to not only steal second, but he would also steal third, giving Eusebio an opportunity to elevate. And elevate he did… Well over the centerfielder’s head for an RBI triple to give the Clippers the 1-0 lead. And, we weren’t done there. Following a sophomore Hunter Davanzo walk and stolen base, the Clippers had runners at second and third with two outs, and senior Anthony Hall at the plate. With a two-strike count, Hall came through with a HUGE 2-RBI single to left field, scoring Eusebio and Davanzo. As it turns out, the three runs in this top of the second inning would be the only runs scored in the game. Eusebio would go on to carve up the Rebels’ lineup for the remainder of the night, while Luke Julian would come on for Crestview and keep the Clippers’ offense off the board for good.
The Rebels did threaten a few times, but Eusebio was able to work his way out with the help of his arm and his great defense behind him. The biggest threat came in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Rebels had second and third with just one out. Alex was able to get a big strikeout and a flyout to the right fielder Davanzo. Anthony Hall would have another hit later on, and fellow seniors Ian Less, Devin Daugherty, and Colin Keleman, along with freshman Avery Young, would also add singles. But it would only be that third inning where any real offensive noise was made. The Clippers earned their stripes on the other side of the baseball. Eusebio would end up with nine strikeouts for the night, while scattering just five hits. Senior left fielder Dylan Hogan would go back and make a nice play on a deep ball sent by Feezle that was certainly concerning off the bat, in the bottom of the third. Ian Less recorded three assists from the shortstop position on the night. Fellow senior Cam Clancy had a huge night defensively on the right side of the infield, logging four assists, including two in the final frame, and two putouts. The Clippers played errorless baseball on top of Eusebio’s great efforts. When we play great defense behind our great pitching, we are going to be a very hard team to beat, and it showed on Friday night.
Columbiana Clippers 
There is something about a rivalry in sports that brings out the best in players. That is exactly what took place on Friday night, when for the first time in seven years, the Clippers were able to play their cross-town rival Crestview Rebels. The venue for the spectacle was Eastwood Field in Niles (home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and Youngstown State Penguins). As, quote, “one of highest attended high school games” Eastwood has ever had, it was certainly the best show in town; and the teams certainly put on quite a show.
The night began with the JV teams going head-to-head. For Coach Wilson’s squad, freshman David Masters was masterful in his performance on the hill. Even cooler, he had the opportunity to pitch to his old brother, Eli, who was the catcher in the game. David went four strong shutout innings before handing the ball over to junior Will Ward to finish it out (the game would only go five innings due to the Clippers run-ruling the Rebels in a 15-3 final). Eli Masters would have two hits in the game, as would fellow junior Blake Unger (one of which was a triple to the left field wall). Sophomore Sam Inboden and freshman Rocco Mediate also had two hits apiece. Inboden, like Unger, had a triple, and Mediate also added a sacrifice fly to his line. Sophomore Lucas Barber also hit a triple in the game.
After the JV team started the night right, it was the Varsity’s turn to keep the good times rolling. Senior Alex Eusebio got the ball for the Clippers against his Rebel counterpart Ethan Feezle. Eusebio and Feezle have played on summer teams together for years, but this was their first opportunity to ever face each other in a high school game. And, in the very first inning, the two did not disappoint. But, it would be the second inning that would be the difference in the game.
After senior Colin Keleman drew a leadoff walk, junior Zane Strohecker came on to run. Zane would go on to not only steal second, but he would also steal third, giving Eusebio an opportunity to elevate. And elevate he did… Well over the centerfielder’s head for an RBI triple to give the Clippers the 1-0 lead. And, we weren’t done there. Following a sophomore Hunter Davanzo walk and stolen base, the Clippers had runners at second and third with two outs, and senior Anthony Hall at the plate. With a two-strike count, Hall came through with a HUGE 2-RBI single to left field, scoring Eusebio and Davanzo. As it turns out, the three runs in this top of the second inning would be the only runs scored in the game. Eusebio would go on to carve up the Rebels’ lineup for the remainder of the night, while Luke Julian would come on for Crestview and keep the Clippers’ offense off the board for good.
The Rebels did threaten a few times, but Eusebio was able to work his way out with the help of his arm and his great defense behind him. The biggest threat came in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Rebels had second and third with just one out. Alex was able to get a big strikeout and a flyout to the right fielder Davanzo. Anthony Hall would have another hit later on, and fellow seniors Ian Less, Devin Daugherty, and Colin Keleman, along with freshman Avery Young, would also add singles. But it would only be that third inning where any real offensive noise was made. The Clippers earned their stripes on the other side of the baseball. Eusebio would end up with nine strikeouts for the night, while scattering just five hits. Senior left fielder Dylan Hogan would go back and make a nice play on a deep ball sent by Feezle that was certainly concerning off the bat, in the bottom of the third. Ian Less recorded three assists from the shortstop position on the night. Fellow senior Cam Clancy had a huge night defensively on the right side of the infield, logging four assists, including two in the final frame, and two putouts. The Clippers played errorless baseball on top of Eusebio’s great efforts. When we play great defense behind our great pitching, we are going to be a very hard team to beat, and it showed on Friday night.
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