Clinton Junior Softball wins state tourney opener, 15-12, over Caln
BERWICK, PA – Clinton Junior softball manager Kevin Tripp was not sure what he had with his team heading into a first-round contest at the Pennsylvania Junior Little League state championship tourney on Thursday. After a wild 15-12 win over Caln, he knows Clinton can hit and hit a lot.
Clinton pounded out 18 hits in the win, the victory advancing the team to a Friday 11 a.m. contest with Lakeland, a team which received a first round bye. The Friday contest will be streamed on therecord-online.
The start of the victory over Caln was a struggle early on, Clinton committing two first inning errors to allow Caln to score two unearned runs. Then Clinton came to bat and went to work: two in the bottom of the first, six in the second, two in the third, three in the fourth and a final two in the bottom of the sixth.
To Caln’s credit the Coatesville area team didn’t quit, battling back to a 15-9 deficit through six innings. Cain made it a little tighter than Clinton fans (and there were quite a few in Berwick) would have liked in the top of the seventh. With one out, Caln worked two walks and then a huge Clinton defensive play: Liv Wilkins lined what looked like a single to centerfield to likely load the bases. But Clinton centerfielder Ava Doyle had other ideas; she charged the hard hit ball, never hesitated, and threw a strike to third base for a force-out and the second out of the inning. Caln would come back with a couple base hits to plate three runs in all, but the rally ended when Clinton reliever Chelsey Harrison picked up a strikeout for the game’s final out; final score, 15-12 Clinton.
Rylin Andrews led the Clinton offense with four singles in five times at bat. MaKenna Franquet had three singles and an RBI. Taylor Doyle added two triples with an RBI and two runs scored; sister Ava Doyle had a triple, single and one RBI. Eva Sockman had a single, double and one RBI. Jacey Tripp was in with two singles and two RBIs; Harrison with two singles; Matti Mason chipped in with a single.
Franquet, Tripp and Harrison shared the pitching duties; their biggest problem was walks, surrendering 11 in all. But they made the pitches when needed and the defense made the plays when needed.
A relieved manager Tripp said, “We hit the ball a ton; the girls persevered. If somebody shuts us down, it’s going to be a good pitcher.” He noted the heat took a toll on both teams.
Caln 2 1 0 1 5 0 3 = 12-11-2
Clin 2 6 2 3 0 2 X = 15=18=3
