Clare softball does the splits with Pinconning

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

Game one didn’t go their way. The Clare softball team got their revenge in game two however, as they salvaged a split with visiting Pinconning on Friday, dropping game one 12-8 and winning game two, 13-2, in five innings.

“It was good to see the girls bounce back after the first performance, we had better defense,” head coach Shane Kelly said. “We just had an all-around better performance and the bats were really clicking, the energy was a lot more positive and excited, so it was a good bounce back.”

Lena Renner had the game two win, logging all five innings and giving up two runs.

The Pioneers had 13 hits in the game, with Breez Yarger getting three hits and one run. Maddison Fritz hit a home run and drove in two runs, Hadley Louch tripled, singled, drove in one run and scored three times and Kyley Wyman and Renner both doubled. Renner also had a single and drove in four runs.

In the opener, Wyman had two home runs, one triple and three RBI, Cara Heintz had a triple, and she scored once and Renner smacked two doubles and one single. Olivia Forsberg had one hit and two RBI and Addison Ames singled as well.

On Tuesday, April 28, Clare swept visiting Bullock Creek in Jack Pine action, 6-1 and 16-4.

“It was good to bounce back from the two losses that we had against St. Louis (the week before),” Kelly said. “We hit the ball better, but we are still coming out slow in the first game. The girls are more locked in the second game, we are working on that and trying to figure that out, but it was good to get two conference wins against a good Bullock Creek team.”

Wyman got the win in game one, allowing just one hit and striking out nine.

Fritz had a home run and two RBI, Heintz tripled and drove in two runs and Wyman had one double, one single and she scored one time. Renner added three hits in the game and Louch had two hits and one run.

Renner got the game two win, going five innings and striking out seven batters.

Yarger, Wyman and Renner all hit home runs in this one, with Heintz and Forsberg getting triples and Luch, Wyman and Louch adding doubles. Yarger finished with three hits and three RBI and Forsberg had three hits and one RBI.

Clare hosted Beaverton on Tuesday, they head for Ogemaw Heights today (Thursday) and they head for Harrison on Tuesday.