Clarkston baseball was supposed to have a busy week with three games scheduled over a five-day period something a team on a roll, such as the Wolves, looks forward to. But at the close of the week’s action the Wolves only had the chance to add one win to their three game win streak, on April 20 against Troy, as matches against Lake Orion, on April 22, and West Bloomfield, on April 25, were cancelled due to freakish Michigan weather.
Against Troy the Wolves put seven runs on the board in the first inning and never let the Colts back in the game, winning 9-2.
‘The two biggest things we have been doing right is that we have been playing so much better defensively and our pitchers have been throwing strikes,? said Clarkston Coach Phil Price. ‘We are not giving teams four or five outs an inning by committing fielding errors.?
All batters for Clarkston recorded at least one hit against Troy and the top of the order consistently found their way to first base.
‘Offensively we are being aggressive at the plate,? said Price.
Leadoff hitter Eric Bryan went three for four with a walk on the day, doing an excellent job of setting the table for the batters behind him. Other standouts at the plate were Steve Vanderheyden (2-5), Mike Kittle (1-2, two walks, two RBI) and Dave Brelinski (two RBI).
J.J. Lange picked up the win for Clarkston, pitching three scoreless innings. Mike Navarre finished the game on the hill, and after working out some kinks in the fourth, allowing two runs, pitched well for the Wolves to close out the final four innings.
The defeat of Troy was the Wolves third in a row. During the win streak the Wolves have outscored their opponents 35-5. Clarkston’s record now stands at 5-3 (3-1)
Next up for the Wolves is an away game with Rochester Adams on April 29 followed by the Brandon tournament on April 30. Clarkston will return home to face Rochester on May 2. The Wolves defeated the falcons 16-0 at Rochester on April 13 to start their mini-streak.