At the start of the softball season, head coach Mike Barten was looking for his Clippers to finish among the conference top two.
Although pitching was an uncertainty, with his team now only one win away from taking second place in the Valley, Barten said his goal two months ago was more than just the typical beginning-of-the-season optimism.
“Top two was realistic because we played everybody tough last year except Nicollet and Lake Crystal, and I knew that Nicollet was going to be down. Yes, the question was in the circle, but the three girls who we put out there have been really, really good, and that’s no longer a concern…and we love what we’re doing with the hitting and the defense behind us.”
Although Nicollet claimed the Class A crown a year ago, its two ace pitchers graduated. The Clippers—coming off an easy peasy win at Madelia two days earlier—had no trouble beating the Raiders at home on Thursday in both halves of a double header.
“Every year is different,” Barten said. “I told the kids ‘don’t be intimidated by what happened last year,’ and they came out and showed that was ready to go and so that was fun.”
In the first game against Nicollet, the only one that counted for the conference record, the Clippers won 15-2.
They got off to as productive of a start as possible when top-of-the-order Sophie Shouler airmailed a full-count pitch over the fence. Laci Hollerich led off the second with a single and scored on an error to put her team up 2-0.
Scoring a pair of runs on two singles and a double, the Blackhawks tied the game in the third, but the Clippers said ‘enough of that,’ and scored three runs after a walk, an error, a Lexy Waldron RBI double and a two RBI single off the stick of Harley Connor.
Their seven runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth made for the early out.
With her bat now a certified weapon, Shouler had a homer, a single and a double. It was her third home run for the week, her fifth this year and the sixth in her career.
The senior shortstop said she was happy to contribute to what’s been a hyped-up offense of late, but she gets a bigger kick out of seeing her teammates succeed.”
“I play a lot of ball. It’s my joy. That’s what I do. But these girls put in a lot of work too, and seeing everybody put the bat on the ball and getting those base hits is so fun to see, so that’s really awesome that everyone’s coming around, especially on senior night.”
Waldron and pinch hitter Mariah McCabe each had a double. Hollerich scattered a hat trick of singles. Kaylee Karels, Connor and Emma Sweere each had a single.
The Clippers walked on seven occasions, never struck out and hit into three errors.
In the circle for all five innings, Hailey Plonsky gave up five hits, and two walks. She struck out none and beaned one.
Game two was similar to game one but then some as the Clippers didn’t allow a run but scored 16 of their own to effect the 15-run rule and end the game in four.
Shouler led off the first with a single, Cassandra Connor walked Hollerich and Kiera Schipper each singled for and the Clippers were up 4 to zip. They scored eight more runs in the second and four more in the third.
Sweere hit her first varsity home run in the second inning and followed it up with another one in the third. Both went over near the foul pole in left field.
“I was thrilled,” said the senior. “I’ve done it in the summer; I just hadn’t done it in the school season but I was hoping.”
Harley Connor smashed a pair of doubles. Shouler hit two singles. Hollerich and Karels each hit a single and a double. Schipper pounded two singles. Waldron had one single. Pinch hitting, Olivia Shouler doubled in the third for a pair of RBIs.
“Softball is a thing that she does because I do it, and she wants to be with me,” said Sophie Shouler about her younger sister. “So to see her get that hit after putting all that work in was really awesome.”
The Clippers struck out twice and walked twice. The Blackhawks committed a pair of errors.
Lilly Lamont tossed the first three innings for the triumph. She fanned two, allowed three hits and hit one batter. Delaney Thompson threw the last inning. She whiffed one, gave up one hit and beaned one.
At Madelia on Tuesday, the Clippers delivered 17 hits to beat the Blackhawks for the second time this season, this time 23-3.
Once again, Shouler inaugurated the game with a home-run blast, the first of two she would have in the contest and the first of five off Clipper bats.
Karels, Waldron and Schipper followed with three-straight singles with Schipper’s RBI putting the Clippers in front 2-0 going into the second.
Keeping the pressure on, the Clippers scored five more runs in the second to take a commanding lead.
Madelia managed three runs in the third on a walk, a two-run homer, another walk, an error and an RBI ground out.
Thompson tossed all five innings. She only allowed a pair of hits while striking out four and walking five. The Clippers had one error.
Two of the Clipper hits were from Shouler, both homers. With two singles, a double and a homer, Cassandra Connor was a triple away from the batting the cycle. Karels and Schipper each hit a double and a single. Waldron had a home run and two singles.
Hollerich hit a homer and a double. Harley Connor had two doubles. Thompson hit a double. Greta Hahn had a single.
The Clippers walked four times, took advantage of four errors and struck out six times.
The Clippers have yet another game against Madelia, this time at home on Tuesday. They take on visiting Loyola/St. Clair on Thursday for a chance to secure second place in the Valley.
Above: Posing with moms on Senior Night are Emma Sweere (Kara), Sophie Shouler (Jess), Kaylee Karels, Lexy Waldron (Michelle), Harley Connor (Holly) and Hailey Plonsky.
Shortstop Sophie Shouler funnels in a grounder.
Emma Sweere comes down the final stretch after her second homer.
Laci McCabe squeezes a putout throw to first.
At second base, Mariah McCabe gloved this line drive for the final out against Nicollet.
Sophie Shouler, Mariah McCabe and Laci Hollerich walk off the field after the Clippers won the second game against Nicollet.
Winner’s circle: The Clippers debrief after sweeping rival Nicollet.