Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

OXFORD – Coming off back-to-back close losses on Tuesday Class 4A No. 14 Clear Creek Amana entered the opener of its doubleheader with rival Solon on Wednesday in need of a win.

The Spartans came into the nightcap on Wednesday with the same feeling.

Both teams managed to get a little bit of what they needed on Wednesday splitting a WAMAC Conference cross-divisional doubleheader in Oxford.

Clear Creek Amana (6-4), which lost two games by a combined three runs to Benton Community on Tuesday, got a homer from Ainsley Schrock in an 8-4 win in the opener.

“When you lose close games like we did last night you just need to get a win any way you can,” Schrock said. “We just came together and took a deep breath and gave it our all.”

Solon (7-3) salvaged a split winning the nightcap 9-2 behind a seven-strikeout complete game from Kayla West.

West allowed just two unearned runs on five hits in her first complete game since recovering from offseason surgery.

“I’m feeling better and I definitely feel more comfortable every game,” West said. “I had a little bit of everything working today.”

Clear Creek Amana snapped a losing skid to Solon that dates back more than seven years with its win in the opener.

The Clippers took control of the game with a four-run third inning that featured an RBI single by Schrock and a two-run single by junior Katelyn LeFleur.

“We had some tough ones last night but they came this morning worked really hard and came into tonight feeling pretty good,” first-year Clear Creek Amana coach Jodie Scheetz said. “It was a good outing for us.”

Solon cut the lead to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning but Clear Creek Amana answered right back with two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Gabrielle Bedford doubled and Grace Bedford had an RBI single in the fourth inning that gave the Clippers a 6-3 lead.

Clear Creek Amana tacked on single runs in the fifth on an Allie Rummelhart safety squeeze bunt and in the sixth on a solo home run by Schrock.

“I got hit in the arm so I didn’t think I was going to have enough to get it over but it was fun to get that one,” Schrock said. “That was a good kind of finishing touch.”

That was enough support for senior Raina Henze who earned the win in the circle holding Solon to four runs, three earned, on five hits while striking out two.

It was the first win for any Clear Creek Amana player over Solon and the first for Sheetz who spent time at Solon as an assistant under Jim White.

“I know we’ve had really good games with them in the past but they always seem to come out on top,” Schrock said. “It was nice to get that win today.”

Solon battled back in game two to earn the split.

The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run first inning to set the tone of the opener early.

All six runs came with two outs with Sarah Heick coming up with an RBI single and Ava Stebral providing the big blow with a three-run triple to right center field.

“We wanted to come over here and try to get two, I’m not going to lie but after we dropped the first one there’s only one thing to do and that’s get the second one,” Solon coach Dave Johnson said. “It sets us up to still have a successful week. If you go 0-2 on your first games of the week you are digging out of a hole all week so it’s a lot better position for tomorrow night.”

The early outburst was more than enough offense for West who allowed just two unearned runs in the third inning.

West didn’t allow a hit after a one-out single by Schrock in the fifth and retired six of the final seven batters she faced.

“I kept checking with here after the fourth inning to see how far she could go,” Johnson said. “I really wanted to get her some help in the seventh inning but she wanted to finish the game. I think she’s getting really close to being 100 percent so to see her finish a complete game was good.”

Stebral and Monet Barnhouse each had two hits while Hilary Wilson and Jadyn Jeter had doubles for the Spartans.

Solon will play six games over the next three days including three against ranked opponents.

“I think it was really important to get that game because we wanted to start the week on top with at least one win,” West said. “The rest of our week is pretty heavy.”

Game 1

Solon                          010  201  0  –  4  5  1

Clear Creek Amana   004  211  x  –  8  9  4

W – Raina Henze                    L – Carly Ellison

2B – CCA: Gabrielle Bedford

HR – CCA: Ainsley Schrock

Game 2

Solon                          600  003  0  –  9  9  2

Clear Creek Amana   002  000  0  –  2  5  2

W – Kayla West                     L – Peyton Graft

2B – SOL: Monet Barnhouse, Hilary Wilson, Jadyn Jeter. CCA: Cheyanne Bunch

3B – SOL: Ava Stebral

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