Clinton Juniors Open State Tourney with 8-1 Win over Indiana

BERWICK – The Clinton Junior All-Stars passed their first test at the state championship tournament with a decisive 8-1 win over Indiana.

From a hitting standpoint, it was an even game with Indiana picking up 5 hits to Clinton’s 6 hits. It was Indiana’s 5 errors that would prove fateful.

With a 2-1 lead over Indiana, Clinton exploded for 5 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 7-1 lead that would prove insurmountable.

Audrey Walker led off with a single in the fourth inning to get things rolling for Clinton. Kelsey Burrows followed on with a sacrifice bunt, with that effort advancing Walker all the way to third base. Bree Weaver would then execute a bunt single for a fielder’s choice to score Walker. Then it was double from Adalyn McKeague, a single from Hana Styers, and a Walk from Julia Schubach finishing out the scoring for Clinton.

Clinton plated their first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Burrows singled, Claire Long was hit by a pitch, then Burrows scoring on an Indiana error.

The second run for Clinton came in the bottom of the third inning when Schubach hit a 2-out single, then summarily stole second and third bases on successive pitches, scoring on another Indiana miscue.

Clinton’s final run of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Burrows reached base on yet another Indiana error, followed by a walk for Long, a pair of fielder’s choice plays by M Hardy and McKeague that allowed Long to score on an error by Indiana.

Styers, Schubach, Cohen, Walker, Burrows and McKeague all had hits for Clinton. Schubach had 3 stolen bases in the game with Styers and Weaver one stolen base each.

McKeague did a fine job allowing her defense to back her up, surrendering 5 hits, 4 walks in 7 innings of work while recording 12 strikeouts on the day.

Clinton will now advance to the next round where they will face District 21 champion, Morrisville tomorrow, Friday, July 12 at 5 p.m. at Ber-Vaughn Park in Berwick. Morrisville defeated Caln Township in the early game today to advance.