Pat Harty

Your Prep Sports

TIFFIN – One of the advantages to playing a doubleheader is a team doesn’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption if it loses the first game.

One of the disadvantages is the risk of being swept.

The Clear Creek Amana baseball team experienced the disadvantage on Monday as Independence swept the Clippers by scores of 12-0 and 5-2. The first game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule, while the second game saw Independence lead from start to finish, including 2-0 after the first inning.

“We came out flat in game one and they put a good pounding to us,” said Clear Creek coach Brent Henry. “In the second game, when we start out in the hole when we’re batting in the first inning, it takes a tough mindset to come over that.

“I thought we played hard (in the second game). We cut the lead to one run a couple times and then they just had a little bit bigger inning toward the end of the game. And that’s baseball.”

The Mustangs jumped on Clear Creek starter Luke Riggan for four runs in each of the first two innings of the first game. Three of the runs in the first inning were unearned.

Riggan didn’t help his cause on the mound by walking five batters. And his defense didn’t help by committing three errors in the first game.

The second game was more competitive as Clear Creek trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the third inning and 3-2 in the fourth.

Eighth grader T.J. Bollers drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

But then Independence rallied for two runs in the sixth off starter Cody Ogden to build some cushion.

The Mustangs improved to 11-10 overall 8-9 in the WAMAC Conference, while Clear Creek fell to 6-15 overall and 5-10 in conference play.

The Clippers were held to just three hits in both games and now have lost eight of their last nine games and will face Dyersville Beckman in a doubleheader on Thursday in Dyersville.

The challenge for Henry is to keep his young team focused and motivated despite the recent adversity. Clear Creek only has four seniors on its current roster.

“There is no doubt, especially coming off last week when we had ranked opponents the entire week and we played competitive and we played tough games, it’s not a matter of being able to compete with the top teams in our conference or even in the state,” Henry said. “I know we can do it. It’s just a matter of being more consistent.”

Senior Kobey Schlotman had two hits and drove in one run for Clear Creek in the second game. Senior Tyler Hallett also had a single and scored a run for Clear Creek in the second game.

Game 1

Independence            442  20  –  12 12 1

Clear Creek Amana 000  00  –   0   3  3

W – Zach Zieser          L – Grant Riggan

3B – IND: Tom Reiff

HR – IND: Zach Zieser

Game 2

Independence            200  102  0  –  5  9  0

Clear Creek Amana  001  100  0  –  2  3  2

W – Cyrus Butters      L – Cody Ogden

2B – IND: Zach Zieser