In a highly charged game on June 10 at CHS? baseball field against the Rochester Rockies, the Clarkston Riverdawgs battled back from a seven-run deficit to tie the game 8-8 after seven innings of play.
After two extra innings, Clarkston rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Rockies 9-8. Alex Navarre pitched the final six innings, striking out six, thwarting the Rockies attempt for a come back.
On June 18, the Riverdawgs kept the wins coming, dominating the Lake Orion Wave, beating them 8-6 and 5-4 in a double header at the Clarkston Varsity field.
In game one, Tyler Scarlett lead the offensive effort with a pair of hits, an RBI and three stolen bases. Chris Bauman drove in three runs. Kyle Harvey scored twice on a pair of walks, Robbie Sims scored twice as well. Luke Prudhomme, the winning pitcher in the first game, also drove in a run. Josh Bemis pitched in the first game and produced an RBI in the second.
In the second game of the double header, Cort Freeman made a spectacular catch in right field halting the Rockies offensive effort in the inning. Sam Fioroni stole four bases for the day and knocked in a run with a hit. Eric Leichtnam, the winning pitcher, also scored in the first game. Alex Navarre executed a perfect sacrifice bunt that allowed a Riverdawg to score. Tom Ronk battled at the plate to produce a bases-loaded RBI on a walk in the second game.
Clarkston’s 14-year-old travel baseball team will continue to compete in the North Oakland Baseball Federation until their regular season ends July 9. Most players have been on the team for four seasons.
The Riverdawgs competed in the Cinco De Mayo tournament, the Memorial Day Classic in Southgate and will play in the Great Lakes Tournament in Grand Rapids the weekend of June 24. This year’s Riverdawg team is currently in fifth place in NOBF league play.
For more information about the Clarkston Riverdawgs visit www.clarkstonriverdawgs.org.