Prior to Saturday, the last time the Columbiana Clippers knocked off the Salem Quakers in baseball, Coach Austin Saverko recorded an RBI in the game (5/6/15). But, thanks to a huge late game rally on Saturday, we were able to get back into the win column after Wednesday’s tough loss.
Junior Avery Young took the hill, going 5 innings to keep the Clippers within striking distance. Young struck out 7 Quakers in his time before handing the ball over to the game’s winning pitcher, fellow junior Drennen Bosela, for the final 2 innings. Bosela struck out 3 during his work.
After 2 scoreless innings to begin the game, Salem would be the first to strike in the top of the 3rd, bringing in 3. They would add another 2 in the top of the 4th to take what seemed like a commanding 5-0 lead. But, in the bottom of the 4th, the Clippers finally threw the first counter-punch. After a single from sophomore Beckett Wilson, a double by the junior Bosela, and senior Hunter Davanzo getting hit by a pitch, it would be sophomore catcher Liam McElwain who put us on the board with a sacrifice fly (that also turned into an error) to score Wilson. Then, with 2 outs in the inning, which was a common theme of the day, sophomore Ethan Lehnerd smacked a 2-strike 2-run single to right center to score Bosela and Davanzo; cutting the deficit to 2 runs. After Young held the Quakers scoreless in his final inning of work, he singled to lead things off in the bottom of the 5th, stole second, and was driven in by another single from Beckett Wilson.
After the Clippers scored 4 unanswered in the 4th and 5th, the Quakers got back up and threw a counter-punch of their own with 2 runs to take a 3 run lead (7-4) heading into the bottom of the 6th. And, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th inning and nobody on base for the Clippers, things were starting to look a little bleak. However, if there was a word to describe the Columbiana Clippers baseball team so far this season, it would be “resilient.” Having already overcome a 6-run deficit to defeat Honeoye Falls – Lima just over a week ago, we were in familiar territory.
A bunt single by junior Rocco Mediate would turn out to be the spark. Mediate would be followed by a Young walk, and after a couple wild pitches, Rocco came around to score to cut it to 7-5. And with Young on third, the sophomore Wilson came through once again with another RBI single to make it 7-6. Wilson would then steal second before Bosela reached on an error; Bosela (the go-ahead run) would steal second to make it 2nd and 3rd with the senior Davanzo at the plate. Hunter would put up what may be the best plate appearance of the year, spoiling 2-strike pitches to eventually draw a 10-pitch walk to load the bases for the sophomore Liam McElwain. Down by 1 and in a 2-strike hole, the catcher sent a line drive over the 1st baseman’s head for a 2-RBI go ahead single, scoring Wilson and Bosela. And, to cap off the inning, senior Sam Inboden smacked a single to left center to bring in McElwain and Davanzo to give the Clippers a 10-7 lead. 6 runs, all with 2 outs and nobody on base. 8 of our 10 total runs came in with 2 outs. Again, resilient. Bosela finished things off on the mound in the top of the 7th to seal the 10-7 victory; the game ended with a diving catch by junior 1st baseman Nick Klindworth.
The JV squad jumped out to a 3-0 lead in their contest with Salem but ended up falling short 4-3. Sophomore Thatcher Smith got the start on the mound going 5 very strong innings, striking out 13 batters while allowing no runs before handing the ball over due to pitch count limitations. Freshman Jackson Davis had 2 hits for the Clippers, while fellow freshmen Carson Chaney, Jacob Conway, Carter Griffith, and Stephen Varkony also added singles. Chaney drove in a run, while Conway and Griffith each scored a run. But, the bulk of the offense came on one swing from sophomore Ayden Dennison whose 2nd inning double (the only extra base hit of the game) brought in our first 2 runs.
The Varsity squad is back in action this evening at home against Wellsville, while there is a “froshmore” game on Wednesday against Lowellville at Bob Cene Park.
Prior to Saturday, the last time the Columbiana Clippers knocked off the Salem Quakers in baseball, Coach Austin Saverko recorded an RBI in the game (5/6/15). But, thanks to a huge late game rally on Saturday, we were able to get back into the win column after Wednesday’s tough loss.
Junior Avery Young took the hill, going 5 innings to keep the Clippers within striking distance. Young struck out 7 Quakers in his time before handing the ball over to the game’s winning pitcher, fellow junior Drennen Bosela, for the final 2 innings. Bosela struck out 3 during his work.
After 2 scoreless innings to begin the game, Salem would be the first to strike in the top of the 3rd, bringing in 3. They would add another 2 in the top of the 4th to take what seemed like a commanding 5-0 lead. But, in the bottom of the 4th, the Clippers finally threw the first counter-punch. After a single from sophomore Beckett Wilson, a double by the junior Bosela, and senior Hunter Davanzo getting hit by a pitch, it would be sophomore catcher Liam McElwain who put us on the board with a sacrifice fly (that also turned into an error) to score Wilson. Then, with 2 outs in the inning, which was a common theme of the day, sophomore Ethan Lehnerd smacked a 2-strike 2-run single to right center to score Bosela and Davanzo; cutting the deficit to 2 runs. After Young held the Quakers scoreless in his final inning of work, he singled to lead things off in the bottom of the 5th, stole second, and was driven in by another single from Beckett Wilson.
After the Clippers scored 4 unanswered in the 4th and 5th, the Quakers got back up and threw a counter-punch of their own with 2 runs to take a 3 run lead (7-4) heading into the bottom of the 6th. And, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 6th inning and nobody on base for the Clippers, things were starting to look a little bleak. However, if there was a word to describe the Columbiana Clippers baseball team so far this season, it would be “resilient.” Having already overcome a 6-run deficit to defeat Honeoye Falls – Lima just over a week ago, we were in familiar territory.
A bunt single by junior Rocco Mediate would turn out to be the spark. Mediate would be followed by a Young walk, and after a couple wild pitches, Rocco came around to score to cut it to 7-5. And with Young on third, the sophomore Wilson came through once again with another RBI single to make it 7-6. Wilson would then steal second before Bosela reached on an error; Bosela (the go-ahead run) would steal second to make it 2nd and 3rd with the senior Davanzo at the plate. Hunter would put up what may be the best plate appearance of the year, spoiling 2-strike pitches to eventually draw a 10-pitch walk to load the bases for the sophomore Liam McElwain. Down by 1 and in a 2-strike hole, the catcher sent a line drive over the 1st baseman’s head for a 2-RBI go ahead single, scoring Wilson and Bosela. And, to cap off the inning, senior Sam Inboden smacked a single to left center to bring in McElwain and Davanzo to give the Clippers a 10-7 lead. 6 runs, all with 2 outs and nobody on base. 8 of our 10 total runs came in with 2 outs. Again, resilient. Bosela finished things off on the mound in the top of the 7th to seal the 10-7 victory; the game ended with a diving catch by junior 1st baseman Nick Klindworth.
The JV squad jumped out to a 3-0 lead in their contest with Salem but ended up falling short 4-3. Sophomore Thatcher Smith got the start on the mound going 5 very strong innings, striking out 13 batters while allowing no runs before handing the ball over due to pitch count limitations. Freshman Jackson Davis had 2 hits for the Clippers, while fellow freshmen Carson Chaney, Jacob Conway, Carter Griffith, and Stephen Varkony also added singles. Chaney drove in a run, while Conway and Griffith each scored a run. But, the bulk of the offense came on one swing from sophomore Ayden Dennison whose 2nd inning double (the only extra base hit of the game) brought in our first 2 runs.
The Varsity squad is back in action this evening at home against Wellsville, while there is a “froshmore” game on Wednesday against Lowellville at Bob Cene Park.
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