Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – In the first game of its doubleheader with Dyersville Beckman on Thursday Clear Creek Amana looked like the same team that rolled in red hot and riding a four-game winning streak.

The Clippers looked like a team playing its third doubleheader in four days in the nightcap.

Class 2A sixth-ranked Beckman used a three-run fifth inning to rally for a 4-2 win in the opener and then completed the sweep of Clear Creek Amana with a 12-2 five-inning in in the nightcap in Tiffin.  

“I don’t think there is any doubt that being up 2-1 and then having that three-run inning combined with where we are at in the schedule in our third doubleheader this week that emotionally it kind of took a toll in that first game,” Clear Creek Amana coach Brent Henry said. “That hit us emotionally and then physically we are just worn down right now.”

Clear Creek Amana dropped to 14-14 on the season and 10-12 in WAMAC play after being swept for the first time since June 14.

Since being swept by Solon two weeks earlier the Clippers had won six of eight before Thursday, a stretch that included wins over 2A third-ranked Regina and WAMAC East leader Western Dubuque.

Clear Creek Amana scored runs in each of the first two innings and took a 2-1 lead into the fifth when it simply ran out of gas and the Blazers took advantage.

Dyersville Beckman (23-9, 19-4) scored three runs in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead and Joel Vaske allowed just one hit, in three innings of scoreless relief to secure the win.

“It was just a tough one tonight,” Clear Creek Amana senior Camden Armstrong said. “It’s a long season and tonight I think the whole week kind of caught up with us.”

The Clippers could never get going in the nightcap.

Beckman scored four runs in the first inning and never trailed on its way to a 12-2 win.

Clear Creek Amana scored its only runs in the first inning, taking advantage of two Beckman errors.

Cody Ogden had a single and Camden Smyka an RBI infield hit in the two-run first but Beckman scored a run in the second and four in the third to break the game open.

“Coming off the first game I think we’ve shown we can play with really good 4A, 3A and 2A schools,” Henry said. “I was a little disappointed with the effort that second game its just right now we are just tired and worn down.”

Freshman Brock Reade took the loss in the nightcap after working 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in the opener.

Clear Creek Amana doesn’t have to wait long for a shot to get back on track.

Class 3A No. 10 Fairfield comes calling on Friday for the Clippers’ fourth doubleheader of the week.

“It’s not like football where you have to wait a week,” Henry said. “The great thing is that we come back tomorrow and we have another great 3A team with Fairfield and it will be another great test.”

Game 1

Dyersville Beckman  010  030  0  –  4  5  2

Clear Creek Amana  110  000  0  –  2  2  1

W – Connor McDermott         L – Grant Jensen

Game 2

Dyersville Beckman  414  03  –  12  10  2

Clear Creek Amana  200  00  –   2    3   2

W – Joel Vaske                       L – Brock Reade

2B – DB: Joel Vaske

3B – DB: Joel Vaske