Published: July 17, 2008 11:32 pm            

Pitchers' duel gets spoiled by Clinton's Waldrop

TERRE HAUTE — Logan Waldrop didn’t receive the memo issued to all Clinton and North Terre Haute players that Thursday’s opening game of the Little League 10-11 year-old District 4 tournament was to be a pitchers’ duel.

Waldrop’s two-out RBI-single — his fourth consecutive single in as many at bats — lifted visiting Clinton to a 1-0 eight-inning victory in over North Terre Haute in the first game of this best-of-three series at NTH’s ballpark on Thursday.

The two teams will play game two in Clinton at 7 p.m tonight.

“He was begging to bat and he did it,” Clinton manager Bill Morgan said of Waldrop. “It was cool, it was great. Can’t say enough about him.”

In the fateful Clinton eighth, Del Dunegan — who struck out his first three at bats — singled, went to second on a wild pitch. Dunegan advanced to third on a two-out single by Jordan Branz, setting up Waldrop’s dramatic game-winning hit.

Meanwhile, NTH gave its fans hope in the bottom of the eighth.

The combination of a lead-off bloop single by Jacob Asay, a wild pitch, and a hit batsman placed two runners in scoring position with two outs.

Zach Edwards hit a blooper over the first base bag that noticeably kicked up the chalk “near” the right field foul line, sending both runners scurrying across home plate for an “apparent” dramatic come-from-behind victory.

But alas, the ball was ruled a foul ball and both runners sent back to second and third. With that reprieve, Clinton held on for the victory.

“Well pitched, good defense … stayed in the whole game and held [North Terre Haute scoreless],” Morgan said. “Got a run, a few breaks and came up with a win. We’ve been beaten twice by [NTH] this year. This time we sealed the deal.”

“We’ve battled Clinton ever since these kids have been eight years old and every game’s a real good game like we saw tonight,” assessed NTH manager Jim “Peach” Leitgabel. “1-0, eight innings, it doesn’t come any better than that. We had our opportunities, just didn’t capitalize on opportunities that we had.”

Through the game’s first seven innings, Clinton only had four runners get into scoring position. NTH helped themselves turning a pair of double plays, and cut down a runner at third trying to stretch a double into a triple.

NTH also had good scoring chances in the first seven innings, but stranded four runners in scoring position, three of them at third base. NTH also lost a runner at home plate, Zach Haase being thrown out attempting to score on a short passed ball.

Otherwise, the pitchers on both teams dominated.

Clinton starter Jordan Branz blanked NTH on two hits, striking out 11 batters before leaving due to surpassing the 85-pitch limit. Dunegan picked up the win in relief, with Taylor Morgan earning the save.

Austin Hicks was the hardluck loser for NTH, allowing just the one run on five hits, striking out eight batters before he reached the 85-pitch limit after 7 2/3 innings.

Asked if his team will feel the pressure of a must-win game, Leitgabel said, “I don’t think these kids feel the pressure, I really don’t. For the most part, a lot of these kids have been there before. I have four kids on this team that went to West Virginia last year as 10-year-olds.”

As for Clinton, Morgan is confident of his team’s chances tonight too.

“We looked back, I think it was around 1995 that Clinton last won a district championship,” Morgan mentioned. “Our other Clinton teams played very well this year but couldn’t pull it off. So hopefully … we’re one game away. Everybody come out and watch a game [tonight] at Clinton at 7.”



Clinton 000 000 01 — 1 7 3

North Terre Haute 000 000 00 — 0 3 2

Branz, Dunegan (W) (7), T.Morgan (Sv) (8) and C.Morgan; Hicks (L), Edwards (8) and Vrabic, Asay (4).

Highlights — For Clinton, Del Dunegan had a single and run scored; Jordan Branz fanned 11 batters, allowing just two hits, no runs in six innings; Branz also had a double and single; Logan Waldrop was 4 for 4 with a RBI. For NTH, Zach Haase had a double; Austin Hicks fanned eight batters, allowed just one run, three hits in 7 2/3 innings; Hicks also had a single; Jacob Asay had a single.

Next — Clinton (1-0) hosts North Terre Haute (0-1) in the second game of the best-of-three series at 7 p.m. tonight. If a third game is necessary, it would be at 7 p.m. on Saturday — a coin toss would determine the host team.

        

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