Clovers can't keep momentum, lose at Clay City

Cloverdale junior Adri Patterson makes a play at second base in a game earlier this season. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

CLAY CITY -- Cloverdale's and Clay City's softball teams are no strangers to dramatic finishes this season.

The Clovers, fresh off a walk-off win against Owen Valley on Thursday, took on a Clay City team that has held on despite late-inning rallies by its opponent in both of its wins this year.

On Friday night it was the Eels that were able to duplicate their early success, making a six-run lead hold up despite a three-run rally by the Clovers in the sixth inning and beating Cloverdale 7-4.

The Eels improved to 3-0 with the victory against the Clovers, who had the tying run at the plate before Clay City secured the win.

"I don't know if they are trying to give me a heart attack or what," Clay City coach Jason Sinders joked following the win. "I don't know, I'm not trying to make excuses, but we are a young team. We have a lot of girls that have played a lot of softball, but it's a different animal when you go to school all day and then you come out and play. I thought we looked tired. We didn't have quite the same energy we've had the last couple of days."

The Eels started their third different pitcher in as many games as freshman Alyssa Yocum went to the circle.

Cloverdale was able to push the game's first run across the plate as senior Katt Raisor drew a one-out walk and pinch-runner Payton Dorsett raced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Christa Asbury. Sophomore Maddy Smith followed with a bunt, but the throw to first skipped out of the mitt of Sam Dyer as Dorsett scored.

The third inning saw Clay City's bats come alive. Senior Madison Booe singled up the middle and Maria Walton was hit-by-pitch. Raven Allender hit a grounder to the third base side. The tag was missed on Booe racing to third and she slid home safely when the Clovers tried to get the out at first base.

The Eels added two more runs as Whitney Jeffers singled home Walton and Emmie Kittle ripped a two-run single for a 4-0 Clay City lead.

The lead continued to grow in the fourth frame as Haliegh Villain beat out a bunt and the throw sailed to the outfield fence as the freshman came around to score on the error. Booe hammered a one-out double to the wall and Allender drove home the run with her second hit of the game.

Clay City went on to add a seventh run in the fifth as Kittle reached on an error and Sam Dyer's RBI single pushed the advantage to 7-1.

Freshman pitcher Alexis Price came on to retire the Clovers in order during her first two innings of work, but got into some trouble in the sixth inning when she walked the first two batters.

Kim and Jess Winders drew the walks and senior Bradanne Toney smacked a RBI single. Junior Adri Patterson brought a second run home with a base hit before Price struck out Beka Jordan following a wild pitch that made the score 7-4.

Junior Whitney Jeffers was brought in to pitch after Price fell behind in the count, 2-0, to Raisor. Jeffers coaxed a ground out from Raisor and then struck out Asbury to end the threat.

Cloverdale continued to threaten late, putting a pair of runners on with two outs as Kim and Jess Winders each tallied base hits. However, Jeffers shut the door, striking out Toney for the save.

Overall, the Eels banged out 11 hits, including two each from Booe and Jeffers and Allender was 3-for-4.

With such a young roster, Sinders admitted that keying on which players will be hitting on a given night is difficult, but is a good problem to have.

"I think what a coach needs is a psychic to figure out who is going to be able to do what and who can," Sinders said. "We're going to have a lot of versatility. When you play in a game and the game goes quick, you may see a batter four times. By the time you see them the fourth time, they are going to figure it out. We've got options so hopefully I can figure out how to use them. I'm excited about being this versatile.

"Hopefully with our versatility we can produce at any place on any given night," Sinders added.

At Clay City
Cloverdale.....010 003 0 -- 4 4 2
Clay City........004 210 x -- 7 11