Menu
Cloverdale baseball explodes in fifth inning to get win
By JOHNATHON GOODE
For the Banner Graphic
CLOVERDALE-- Tied going into the bottom of the fifth inning meant no harm for the Cloverdale Clovers baseball team, who pushed 10 runs across to force the 10 run rule. They got the 14-4 win over the Turkey Run Warriors.
Clovers' senior pitcher Kade Schroer pitched a full five innings allowing only three hits with eight strikeouts. He issued two walks and hit a batter.
"I didn't even know I had eight strikeouts," Shroer said, "I just threw it where the glove was and helped my team as much as possible."
"I was pleased with Kade tonight," Clovers' coach Bryan Archer said, "He threw a lot of strikes. We really wanted to focus on pounding the strike zone and letting the defense make some plays. He got into a couple huge jams and he pitched his way out of them."
Cloverdale (5-4 3-1 West Central) got out to a quick start in the first inning, shutting down the Warriors and then scoring three runs of their own.
"We talk every game about what our approach is at the plate," Archer said, "I thought for the first inning we did that, then we got away from it for a few innings. We swung at some bad pitches and got away from what we do in practice. Some guys came through for us and had good at-bats and overall I thought we did pretty well."
It looked like sophomore pitcher Drew Ferguson had the Clovers down as well, striking out the first batter, Shroer. He then gave up three singles, a walk and two runs before getting senior outfielder Andrew Howard to strike out. Clovers' junior outfielder Troy Davis singled after the strikeout to drive in the third run.
Ferguson finally got out of the inning after facing the full Cloverdale linup with a Robert Buskirk strikeout.
After a quick first half of the first inning the Warriors got the bats rattling. Freshman infielder George Munoz led off hitting a deep fly ball to center, but Howard caught it.
The deep fly was a good sign for Turkey Run. It showed they would be able to get some power off of Schroer.
Shroer struck out the next Warrior batter before issuing two consecutive singles to freshman Brock Mitchell and sophomore Tyler Davis. He walked freshman Brady Mitchell to load the bases with two outs. Brock Mitchell scored on a passed ball and moved the runners up a base.
The next Turkey Run batter Drew Ferguson singled to knock in Davis and Brady Mitchell to tie the game at three. Sophomore Warren Mullins grounded out to Schroer to end their half of the inning.
"I said it was early in the game," Asher said, "This team puts the bat on the ball and we're going to have to make some plays. I told Kade to keep throwing pitches. If we have a pitcher who keeps throwing strikes and a good defense, then we will be alright."
Cloverdale went on to get the lead back in the bottom of the second. Joseph Martin grounded out, which drove in Duke duff, who reached on an error earlier in the inning by the Warriors second basemen Brock Mitchell.
By the third inning both pitchers looked like they had settled in and both got through the inning only facing three batters.
Turkey Run started their half of the fourth with Jacob Ferguson being hit by a pitch and the next two batters grounding out, getting Ferguson to second. Brady Mitchell stole the only double of the game driving in Ferguson. This was the last offense the Warriors would get because the next four batters were outs.
The bottom half of the third had its chances for the Clovers, who had runners on first and second, but two ground ball fielder's choices to third base stopped the threat.
After forcing a three up and three down scenario Cloverdale got hot. Roach, Howard and Davis all singled and then Robert Buskirk reached on an error to put Roach across home plate.
Turkey Run switched pitchers with still no outs and put sophomore Dewey Ashley on the mound.
The Clovers threatened Ashley just like the previous pitcher. Schroer and Duff both reached on fielder's choices but both resulted in two runs scoring and no outs. Davis scored on an error by catcher Brady Mitchell.
White, Carter and Martin hit three consecutive singles with no outs and put in a run for Cloverdale. Roach batted for his second time in the inning and singled again bringing in Carter. Howard hit a fielder's choice resulting in the first out of the inning at second.
Davis singled to the third baseman for the Clovers loading up the bases. Buskirk was hit by a pitch bring to bring in Martin and keep the bases full.
The bases were still loaded for Cloverdale and they had an eight run lead. Ashley had a one run to spare before the ten run rule came in to play. It was not enough when Shroer hit a two run single to force the rule and end the game in a shortened five-inning game.
"There late in the game we did a good job of having the right approach," Asher said, "We were wanting to do certain things at the plate tonight and I thought in the fourth and fifth we picked up on that."
Shroer spent the full time on the mound for the Clovers, but could have gone longer if necessary.
"I was good to go," Shroer said, "I was definitely ready to pitch through seven."
It was not a powerful night for the Clovers but 16 singles was enough. Shroer was pleased with how his team backed him up.
"Batting for sure helped me out," Schroer said, "I got a little nervous, but they came through with the at-bats and it was a good night. It was a good win for us coming off a split with Monrovia."
At Cloverdale
R H E
Turkey Run 030 10 -- 4 3 3
Cloverdale 310 0(10)--14 16 0
Doubles (1): Bra. Mitchell (TR)
Errors (3): Ashley (TR), Bro. Mitchell (TR), Bra. Mitchell (TR).
Pitching: W: Shroer (C) 4R 2ER 3H 2BB 1HBP L: D. Ferguson (TR) 9R 5ER 10H 4BB 0HBP Relief: Ashley (TR) 5R 5ER 6H 0BB 1HBP