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Clegg, White lead Reserve
By BRANDON JUDEH
Berlin Center
A slow infield, saturated outfield and a dominate pitching performance were enough to propel the Western Reserve baseball team past Lowellville, 6-1, in a Division IV sectional tournament game on Tuesday.
The field conditions created some issues for both teams, but the Blue Devils’ (17-5) bats came alive in the second inning.
With one on and two outs, Parker Warren delivered an RBI single.
Cole Smith then reached on an error and Warren scored on a throwing error to push the lead to 2-0.
Nick Allison’s RBI single capped off the inning and gave Western Reserve the early advantage.
It was more than enough for starting pitcher Jordan White.
“My goal was to get ahead early, throw strikes and depend on my defense, which really helped a lot,” said White.
“I relied on my breaking ball and that helped me get ahead.”
White was the difference, pitching a complete game, striking out 11 and scattering five hits.
The Rockets (10-13) got a run back in the third inning when White walked in a run with the bases loaded, cutting the lead to two. White was able to pitch his way out of the jam to hold the score at 3-1.
Western Reserve took the momentum back in the top of the fourth, thanks to Parker Clegg’s game-changing hit.
He smashed a liner to right field and went all the way to the warning track.
Clegg hustled around the bases and crossed home plate on his way to an inside-the-park home run.
“I actually thought the [fielder] was going to catch it, but then when I saw the ball get past him I just kept running,” said Clegg. “I was a little out of breath rounding third, but I made it.”
White only allowed one more hit the rest of the game and retired 13 out of the final 14 batters on his way to picking up the win.
“That home run really helped me settle in and all of us love playing here at home, it was great to see all of the fans here supporting us,” White said.
In the fifth inning the Blue Devils tacked on two more runs. Tommy Marlowe hit an RBI double to center and Clegg came through again with a RBI triple.
“I was just doing my thing out there, hitting the ball and running and it was a big win for us,” said Clegg.
Randy Pavlicko went 3 for 3 with a double and Nick Micco picked up the only RBI for the Rockets.