Clovers move on to sectional semifinal

Cloverdale senior Brody Pfaff makes a diving catch against Monrovia in the sectional game on Wednesday. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

SPEEDWAY -- Cloverdale's baseball season briefly looked to be in some doubt in their sectional opener against Monrovia Wednesday night.

Finding runs took longer than expected after a nearly hour long rain delay and six scoreless innings, but the Clovers pushed four across in the top of the seventh to advance 4-0 over the Bulldogs.

Senior Justin Wilson picked up the win after pitching seven shutout innings to pick up his school-record 11th victory of the year, but was forced to hold the line while waiting for his own squad to score.

Cloverdale threatened to open the game with senior Brody Pfaff reaching third but neither Cody nor Tyler Carter could get the left fielder in against Monrovia starter Jeremy Gray.

The Clovers got off to a solid start in the fourth with seniors Austin Mannan and Cody Carter reaching base.

Mannan managed to get out of a rundown between second and third but was thrown out at home on a Nick Cupp-grounder to third.

Monrovia's best chance to score came in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Kent Delph singled with two outs and was looking to advance to third when Lane Cooper beat out a play at first.

Delph was thrown out at third by freshman Brayden White to prevent the Bulldogs from bringing the top of the order to bat with runners on.

Mannan would reach base in the sixth with a single and moved over with a walk to Cody Carter.

Carter flied to deep center to move Mannan to third, but the Clover catcher was judged to have left early and called out off of second base to eliminate Cloverdale's momentum.

Cloverdale finally broke through in the top of the seventh with the bottom of the order.

Will Andersen came in to DH in the inning with one out and was clipped by a ball to advance to first.

Kade Schroer hit a grounder just past the third base bag to move Andersen and bring the top of the order to bat.

Wilson walked to load the bases before a wild pitch allowed Andersen to score. Pfaff flied out to center and Mannan was intentionally walked to reload the bases.

A passed ball allowed Schroer to score before Cody Carter singled to score Wilson and Mannan to bring the lead up to 4-0.

Wilson shut the door in the seventh to finish the complete game and send the Clovers onward to the sectional semifinal against the winner of the postponed game between Covenant Christian and South Putnam.

The sectional semifinal game is Monday at Speedway at 10 a.m.

Cloverdale junior Kade Schroer dives across home plate after the ball gets past Monrovia's catcher. (Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT)

IHSAA Section quarterfinal.
At Speedway High School
Cloverdale..................000 000 4 -- 4 5 1
Monrovia....................000 000 0 -- 0 4 3