Baseball fans all over the Metro Detroit area have a little extra spring in their step this April and perhaps that enthusiasm has carried over the Clarkston varsity baseball team.
The Wolves have opened the season with an impressive 5-0 record before getting the week off for spring break. When asked who he thinks will lose first, his team, or the Tigers, Clarkston coach Phil Price said the Wolves would stay perfect longer than the team who wears the old English D.
Clarkston’s most recent win came during a dreary, windy and cloudy day at Clarkston High School, but the bad weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the Wolves, who handed Birmingham Groves a loss as the Wolves edged their opponents 6-4. The win followed four other Clarkston wins, all of which came in double headers against Waterford Mott and Kettering.
‘We’re 5-0 and we haven’t played our best baseball yet,? Price said. ‘It’s tough to play in that kind of weather (from the Groves game), but our kids stuck it out and did a nice job.?
Jim Coleman got the win on the mound for the Wolves, holding Groves scoreless through the first two innings. He ended the day with eight strikeouts going six strong innings for Clarkston. It marked his second win of the young season.
Offensively, the Wolves were led by Addison Turk who was 2-for-3 on the day with a triple and single. His only out during the game was a line drive to the shortstop, which nearly knocked over the Groves defender, Price said.
‘Addison’s been really hitting the ball well for us. The nice thing about his triple was that he hit it to right field,? Price said.
Sophomore Mike Kittle also had a nice performance with two hits, Price said.
‘Mike’s only a sophomore and sometimes it’s tough with so many other kids on the team older than him, but he really came through for us in the clutch that game,? Price said.
Price also praised the play of Sam Palace, Aaron Powell and Jono Moehlig early on this season.
‘Those kids have really played well for us in the first three games,? he said.
Clarkston took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an entertaining pickle Kittle got into between first and second base. He outlasted the defenders for a solid 20 seconds, which was enough time to score Turk.
The Wolves are off until April 19 when they head up to East Lansing to play Davison at Michigan State University at 3:30 p.m. Clarkston’s next home game is April 23 at 4 p.m. when they host Seaholm.