It’s been awhile since Clarkston Boys Varsity Baseball team had their last district honor in 2006.
The boys reclaimed the trophy after giving Fenton a fight on Saturday, 12-5.
‘It was a total team effort,? said senior Chris Mocerino. ‘We needed hits and we got them.?
Fenton scored two runs in the top of the first inning to gain the lead and Clarkston used the first two innings to warm up for their move in the third inning.
‘My assistants Chris and John made a good suggestion that we were going to take pitches,? said Clarkston Head Coach Phil Price. ‘We made the pitcher throw some strikes . We got some walks and a home run. We changed the tempo of the whole game. Earlier we were free swinging. We weren’t competing. We were making poor plate appearances. The game changed a little bit.?
Junior Chase Toth stood at the plate and waited for the perfect pitch. He swang at the ball sending it over the right field and the fence. He brought Jared Sperry and himself back to the dugout on his home run.
‘Chase got a pitch he could drive,? said John Drallos, assistant coach. ‘Sometimes things don’t work out like it’s drawn out. Sometimes it works out better.?
Another home run from Chris Mocerino in the fifth inning kept the score tied at three.
‘It felt good,? said Mocerino after the game. ‘It was big. We needed it and it came through.?
Jassiel Gonzalez struck next in the bottom of fifth inning hitting a double. The hit brought Tyler Scarlett and Matt Rodgers in to take Clarkston to 5-3.
Clarkston’s coaching staff made a a decision to pull Jarett Coy after Fenton had three hits at the top of the sixth inning.
They put Matt Miller in and the Tigers scored two runs, tying the game again.
Clarkston made one more change and brought Scarlett out to the mound.
‘Tyler came out and said ‘I am going to come out and finish this game,?? said Chris Combs, assistant coach.
Defense closed the inning with catches from Siwicki on first base and Toth in the centerfield.
The Wolves claimed the sixth inning as their own – scoring seven runs.
They had two outs and the bases loaded when Scarlett took his place at the plate. After two strikes and two balls he hit it to the left field and brought in two runners.
Vince Siwicki finished the inning hitting the ball into the trees for the team’s third run. The play brought in three players and finished the game, 12-5.
‘All year the team has been pushing team effort and everyone came through,? said Mocerino.
The boys had beat Hartland earlier in the day, 6-0. Gonzalez scored a homerun and hit 2-for-3.
‘The seniors really stepped up today,? said Combs. ‘They deserve it they are good kids and they work hard. They have been working all season this is their time.?
The boys move onto MHSAA Regionals this Saturday at Oxford High School, 745 N. Oxford Rd. They face Avondale High School at 11 a.m.
‘Monday we will get right back at it and come up with a game plan,? said Price.
The boys faced the Yellow Jackets twice in the regular season. Defeating them twice in double headers.The winner moves on to battle Rochester or Rochester Adams.