While throwing strikes has been an issue for the Cleveland varsity nine, generating any kind of offense has also been problematic as the Clippers only managed three hits and one run in lopsided losses to host Mankato Loyola and visiting Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther last week.
On Loyola hill on Friday, the Crusaders jumped out with 10 runs in the first on a mixed bag of five hits, three walks, two errors, a third-strike passed ball and a hit batter.
Down 13-0, the Clippers strung their only two hits together for their only run when Tanyon Hoheisel tripled to right field, and Jack Voit followed up with a groundout for the RBI.
Batting after Voit, Nathan Seeman hit a line drive to the right but was left stranded on first.
With two runs in the second and one more in each the third and fourth, the Crusaders cruised to a decisive 14-1 win in five innings.
The Clippers whiffed ten times and walked twice (Kale Kelley and Kyle Connor). They committed five errors in the field. Loyola had no errors.
Hoheisel started out on the mound and went two thirds of an inning. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out two. Gabe Sullivan took over and permitted two hits two walks and struck out on in an inning and a third. Blake Lyons tossed the last two innings. He gave up five hits, two walks and whiffed three.
Against GHEC/ML/T on Tuesday the Clippers watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 13-0 loss
The Jaguars scored nine runs in the first on a double, an error, a trio of singles, a walk and a fielder's choice. They scored two more runs in each the fourth and the fifth.
“Once we settled down and got the curve ball working, we did better,” said head coach Mike Krenik.
But the Clippers bats were on mute. They struck out seven times and walked once. Lyons dropped a fly ball into center field in the third for their only hit.
Sullivan toed the rubber for the Clippers. The pitcher surrendered nine runs on six hits over three innings, striking out one and walking four. Connor threw two innings out of the bullpen. He gave up four hits and walked two.
Truman didn't commit a single error. The Clippers had six mishaps, two in the outfield and three in the infield.
The 0-4 Clippers travel to Alden on Monday to take on non-conference Glenville-Emmons/Alden-Conger.
Above: Shortstop Blake Lyons sets up to field a Loyola grounder.
Kyle Connor took the hill in relief against GHEC/T/ML.
Kale Kelley holds a Jaguar runner on first base. (photo courtesy of Patty Sullivan)
Tanyon Hoheisel got the start at Loyola, but the Crusaders roughed him up, and he left the mound with two outs in the first.
Nathan Seeman fields a putout throw to second at Loyola.
Third baseman Jack Voit winds up for a throw across the Loyola diamond.
Alex Johnson was one of five Clippers to get on base against the Crusaders when he got hit by a pitch.
Tanyon Hoheisel rounds second after hitting a triple at Loyola.