Clarkston lacked not for effort in their 12-2 loss to Groves on June 11 in the regional semifinal ? they simply did not have the players.
Due to an unfortunate scheduling conflict, ACT testing pulled seven of Clarkston’s thirteen varsity players from the 10 a.m. game, forcing the Wolves to rely on freshman and sophomores from the junior varsity squad.
The players filling in did so admirably, but in the end, the Falcons forced the wheels off the Wolves pumpkin coach and the season came to an end.
‘Our kids battled. I’m just so proud of our kids. That last inning we just ran out of gas,? said Clarkston Coach Phil Price. ‘I don’t want to get into making excuses ? our kids competed.?
Clarkston trailed 5-2 until an eight-run sixth inning salvo from Groves? bats ended the game.
At the onset of the game, the only regulars available for the lineup card where Eric Bryan, who moved from right field to left; pitcher Mike Navarre; center fielder Eric Ogg; and first baseman/pitcher J.J. Lange, who donned a catcher’s mask in a game for the first time in more than three years.
‘We didn’t have a catcher. J.J. has a pretty good arm so that’s why he caught,? said Price.
But after Navarre surrendered two early runs, Lange was called from behind the plate and onto the hill. He struck out the first two batters he faced, ending the first inning with the bases loaded.
‘J.J. coming in as relief, pitching after he was catching, he just did a fabulous job,? said Price.
Lange pitched five innings, striking out three, walking one and allowing four earned runs.
Down 3-0 in the third inning, Clarkston’s bats came alive as Navarre singled home two. Hiwever, the inning’s offensive potential was never fulfilled, as two runners were tagged out at home on dusty, zero room for error plays at the plate.
The Wolves loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but a two out grounder found its way into Falcon first baseman Blake Edwards? mitt and the threat idled.
Clarkston did not manage another base runner in the final two innings as Groves? Rob Moffat went six innings for the win, striking out two, walking three and allowing one earned run along the way.
While the loss may sting, Price is pleased with the season as a whole.
‘I think we got better and better as the year went on, we just needed experience,? he said.
With the Wolves losing 12 players from the 2004 iteration, Price is happy and somewhat surprised to see his team post a 22-11 mark on the year and capture their fourth district title in a row and seventh in eight years.
Next year, the Wolves should return eight of their starters, and Price feels that the young players experience in the regioanal semifinal will go a long way for their development over the summer.