Solid pitching leads Clare baseball to home sweep over Pinny

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

Andrew Moreno was lights out in game one. Dane Alexander was equally strong in game two. The Clare baseball team received a pair of pitching gems from that duo on Friday, and they were able to defeat visiting Pinconning as a result, 3-0 and 9-0 in Jack Pine Conference action.

For Moreno in game one, he threw all seven innings to get the shutout, allowing just one hit while striking out 11 and walking three.

“This was a good game,” head coach Dave Gould said. “Moreno pitched a heck of a game. We battled at the plate and got the job done with four hits.  We didn't let a couple errors get to us and fought hard the entire game.  I was pleased with Moreno's performance on the mound and he worked hard, pitching a complete game.  We seemed to be making the adjustments that we have been working on both at the plate and on the mound.”

On offense, Alexnader tripled and scored a run with Blake Sian and Trent Francisco adding one single and one RBI each. Connor Bemrose had one hit and Parker Smith had one RBI and he scored twice. Walker Sian and Blayn Bigelow both managed to reach on walks.

Alexander went all seven frames in game two to get his no-hit shutout, and he struck out 16 and walked four.

“What a great game,” Gould said. “Alexander pitched a dandy, getting the no hitter.  He was in control the entire game and battled through a couple tight spots. Our defense did the job, and we got the bats going in the sixth when Brody Allen cleared the bases on a nice hit to right field.  We put up 10 hits this game with Parker Smith, and Blake Sian getting two hits apiece.  We got on early with two in the third inning, but it was a close game until the sixth.”

While it took awhile for Clare’s offense to get going in this one, Alexander was spot-on all contest to help the Pioneers get the victory.

“Alexander shut them down after that and pitched the complete game no hitter,” Gould said. “Proud of the teams’ performance. We continue to work on playing cleaner ball and our pitching has improved each game.  It's always something seeing a no hitter and I was proud of Dane for working so hard on the mound.”

Smith (three RBI) and B. Sian had two hits apiece while adding one hit each was Alexander, Allen (three RBI), JR Mast and W. Sian.

Clare also hosted Bullock Creek on Tuesday, April 28, in more Jack Pine play, splitting these contests. They won the opener 14-4 (five innings), but dropped game two, 6-5.

Blake Sian got the win in game one, going five frames and allowing four runs, one earned on six hits, seven strikeouts and one walk.

“We had great pitching from Blake and did a nice job at the plate, putting up runs in each of the five innings,” Gould said. “Blake is improving with each outing he is on the mound.  We capitalized on walks at the plate which helped us score with only five hits.  We ran the bases well, which helped get guys across the plate as well.”

On offense, W. Sian had one hit, one walk and two RBI, Bigelow had one hit and two RBI while B. Sian, Alexander and Moreno all added one hit apiece.

Game two unfortunately slipped away from the Pioneers.

“We had a few errors that they capitalized on and allowed them back in the game in the fifth and sixth innings,” Gould said. “Parker Smith started the game and pitched well, we just couldn’t help him out when we needed to. Allen and Blake Sian both made great catches in the outfield and Moreno was solid behind the plate as well.”

Smith went the first four and one-third innings and gave up four earned runs on six hits, four strikeouts and three walks. Bigelow took the loss, allowing two runs in relief.

Moreno had two hits to lead the offense while getting one hit each was Francisco, Alexander, Smith (two RBI), Allen, B. Sian and W. Sian.

Clare hosted Beaverton on Tuesday, they head for Ogemaw Heights today (Thursday), they’ll host Shepherd on Monday and they’ll make the trip to Harrison on Tuesday.