You could think of it as the rubber match between two of the state’s best baseball teams the last few years.
It was the third time in the last three years that Clarkston and Brother Rice have met in post season action. Each team had one once, Clarkston two years ago and the Warriors last year, with an 8-3 regional final win over the Wolves. Clarkston entered the game coming off four consecutive wins in which they outscored their opponents by the combined score of 42-1. They didn’t allow a single run in their entire district tournament.
However, a bottom of the seventh inning rally was cut short and so too was Clarkston’s season.
Clarkston’s Aaron Powell and Rice’s Steve Antoniotti were locked in classic pitcher’s duel for the game’s first five innings. Rice scored first in the top of the game’s first inning, but Clarkston’s Jono Moelig responded in the bottom of the first with a solo home run to knot the game at one.
The game stayed way until the sixth inning thanks to some stellar defensive plays by Clarkston’s Mike Kittle, Addison Turk and Nate Davis. But the Warriors eventually solved Powell getting several base hits while opening the game up to a 5-1 lead.
Brother Rice coach Bob Riker said his team was able get the best of a very good Clarkston team.
‘We got one key hit after another and it was a very big inning for us. Powell battled the whole time, as did Antoniotti,? Riker said. ‘We knew it was going to be tough. We knew our top five our six guys have got to outplay their five or six top guys and I think we did that. Somebody’s got to come out on top and today was an up day for us.?
Clarkston’s offense continued to run dry as Rice got Clarkston out one, two, three in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Warriors had an opportunity to extend their lead in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded, but Jim Coleman, who came in relief of Powell, got the Rice batter to strike out to give the Wolves a final at bat and four runs to make up.
Moelig responded with a leadoff single to keep Clarkston’s regional title hopes alive. And finally, what had been a very quiet and somber Clarkston dugout since the game’s middle innings, began to show some much needed life. The dugout erupted when Sam Palace hit a two-run homer to cut the Warrior lead in half to make it a 5-3 game.
Powell struck out on Clarkston’s next at bat, however Addison Turk singled to keep Clarkston’s comeback hopes alive. However, Steve Sheil grounded into a double play on Clarkston’s final at bat, thus ending the Wolves? season.
Clarkston coach Phil Price said his team put forth its best effort against a very talented Brother Rice team.
‘We competed today. We didn’t beat ourselves. They beat us. They strung some hits together that inning. Their pitcher did a great job for them. Our kids battled ? Davis, Turk, Powell, what a nice job he did for us today. Our was really proud of the way our kids didn’t quit. It’s easy to lay an egg, but your tail between your legs and go home, but not us. I’m very proud,? Price said.
Price said it was just a matter of some timely hitting by Rice against Powell, who pitched a solid game.
‘He tired a little bit and led off the inning with a walk, but he did a great job. They got a couple hits fell in that inning. A couple of the times we hit the ball hard we didn’t get hits. That’s just how a close game goes. They’re an excellent team,? Price said.
Price said there’s a definite possibility it took the state’s best team to beat his club.
‘If they play like that, they’re a very tough team to beat. I don’t think they made an error all game. They’re very well coached and they’ve been there before,? Price said.
The Wolves ended the season with a 26-8 overall record and a share of the OAA I league title. The Wolves lose 11 seniors from this year’s club.