West Bloomfield played spoiler for the Clarkston baseball team on May 24. The Wolves had a chance to tie for the OAA I title, but fell to the Lakers 6-5.
‘Our kids didn’t come to play today,? Clarkston Coach Phil Price said. ‘West Bloomfield was mostly throwing one-pitch fastballs and our kids couldn’t hit it. When we had guys on base, we couldn’t come through and we made six errors. We had a chance for a league title and we didn’t go for it. We didn’t deserve it today.?
The game against West Bloomfield was Clarkston’s third in three days. The Wolves defeated Lake Orion on May 22 and Royal Oak Kimball on May 23 to give themselves a shot at the league title. Clarkston needed four straight league wins to end the season to tie Farmington.
Clarkston started off the conference season 1-3 and then won four of its next five. Price said he was pleased with the team’s play in the two wins over Lake Orion and Kimball, but is unsure why the team didn’t play well against the Lakers.
‘I wish I knew that answer,? Price said. ‘I’m beating myself up. I don’t think we did a very good job coaching. We didn’t put kids in the right spots and we didn’t do what we should have done. We have to take our hats off to West Bloomfield. Those kids didn’t have anything to play for and they out-competed us today.?
The loss also came at a crucial point in the season. Clarkston begins the state playoffs on May 30 by hosting Waterford Mott. The Wolves and Corsairs are the two favorites in the district, which also features Pontiac Northern, Pontiac Central and Waterford Kettering.
Price said he’s not taking anybody in the district for granted, but he is more worried about his team.
‘What it comes down to, we just have to prepare ourselves,? Price said. ‘If we come out and play good baseball we can compete with anybody. We can’t have six errors and not compete at the plate. When we play good defensively we will be ok. I’m not worried about the other teams. I’m worried about us.?
In the Wolves? loss to West Bloomfield they, trailed 4-3 entering the fifth inning. Dave Brelinski led off with a double. Ty Taylor knocked in Brelinski with a double of his own to tie the game at four and Steve McIsaac hit an RBI single to give Clarkston a one run lead.
The Lakers tied the game at five in the bottom of the fifth. Clarkston had a man on second and third with one out in the sixth, but left the two runners stranded.
West Bloomfield made Clarkston pay in the bottom of the sixth by scoring the go-ahead run.
Clarkston’s game against Waterford Mott finished too late for this addition of The Clarkston News, but check back next week for complete coverage of district play.