The Clinton Central Bulldogs knocked the Frontier Falcons out of the Sectional in a six-inning game that
proved the championship game against the Rossville Hornets will be one for the books tonight, May 22.
The Bulldogs started the game strong before losing momentum in the middle of the game, culiminating in a final sixth inning that pushed the bulldogs over the edge to end the game early with a score of 13 to 3.
As the Falcons took to the plate for the top of the first inning, the Bulldogs defense readied themselves for an exciting game and held the Falcons to only one run before the teams transitioned sides. The Bulldogs began their offense with bats blazing as they racked up five runs in the bottom of the first inning to secure enough runs to win the game, ending the inning with a score of 5 to 1 in favor of the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs were able to hold the Falcons to a non-scoring inning during the top of the second before ramping up once more at the plate to entertain a rally that would lead the Bulldogs to an early victory. In the bottom of the second inning, the Bulldogs racked up 7 more runs to stretch the possibility of a comeback by the Falcons to a gap of 12 to 1 in favor of the Bulldogs.
A short rally by the Falcons in the top of the third inning appeared to rattle the Bulldogs as errors began to be tallied and runs began gracing the board for Frontier. With two additional runs, the Falcons turned over the inning to the Bulldogs where the momentum began to slide. The Bulldogs would be unable to continue their rallies from the first two innings, falling quickly to the Falcons’ defense to rack up the first non-scoring inning for Clinton Central.
Both teams would flex their defense over the next two innings as the fourth and fifth innings saw no runs scored for either team, leading the Falcons to take to the plate in the top of the sixth with a gap of 12 to 3. The Bulldogs defense held strong, keeping the Falcons to zero runs for the inning as it turned over to the Bulldogs for the bottom of the sixth.
With only one run necessary to end the game early and advance to the Sectional Championship, the Bulldogs focused on the victory, securing the final run and ending the game with a score of 13 to 3. The Bulldogs would boast an impressive 13 hits while racking up three errors on defense compared to the Falcons’ six hits and five errors.
The Bulldogs will advance to the Sectional Finals against the Rossville Hornets at Rossville tonight, Wednesday, May 22 at 6 p.m. for the chance to secure the Sectional Champion title from the #2 ranked Hornets on their home turf.
Bulldogs Stats:
Landree Whiteman: 4-4, double, RBI
Addi Mounts: 2-3, double, 2 RBI
Lynssie Wallsmith: 2-4
Olivia Richie: 2-4, double, 3 RBI
Carly Davison: 2-4, RBI
Kylie Riehl: 1-2
Kortney Surber: Sac, 2 RBI
Landree Whiteman (Pitching): 6 innings, 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 error, 0 walks, 11 strikeouts