Menu
Griffons defeat Clarinda at home, 8-7
By Eric Wade
Daily Mail Sports Editor
A long homestand is the one thing every baseball coach looks forward to more than just about anything else in the middle of a season. Not only does it provide a chance to play in a more friendly environment, but also the advantage of playing on a familiar field, theoretically making wins easier to come by.
The Nevada Griffons have found themselves in exactly that position this week as Wednesday night's game against the Sedalia Bombers marked the start of a six-game stretch at Lyons Stadium. Things didn't go nearly as well as Griffons head coach Ryan Mansfield might have hoped to start the homestand, however, as the Bombers picked up the victory by a final score of 6-5, to move into a tie for the MINK League South Division lead.
In the second game of the homestand, the Griffons had another tall task ahead of them as they hosted the Clarinda (Iowa) A's. Throughout the course of the year, the A's have seemed to have the Griffons' number, winning three of the first four meetings between the two squads, including taking two of three in Clarinda the last time the Griffons made their way up to Southwest Iowa, June 17-19.
The Griffons ultimately proved to be up to the challenge, however, winning the contest by a final score of 8-7, scoring the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.
"It was definitely interesting, to say the least," Mansfield said. "Our guys like to come back, that's good. If we can manage to keep that rolling, I'll be happy."
The A's came into the night as one of the hottest hitting teams the Griffons have faced all season long, hitting .319 as a team. The Griffons, however, didn't intend to make things easy on the high-powered A's offense, starting what has become the ace of the pitching staff in Sam Hilliard.
Though Hilliard entered the contest with a record of 3-0 and a 2.37 ERA, the A's didn't have much trouble getting to him early in the contest. By the time all was said and done, the A's were able to touch Hilliard for three earned runs on three hits in the top of the first inning, putting the Griffons in an early 3-0 hole.
Though that appeared to be a significant hole, the Griffons had no trouble getting to A's starter Bobby LeWarne in the home half of the frame. On his first two pitches of the night, LeWarne hit Griffons leadoff hitter Michael Sterling and surrendered a double to Michael Douglas.
By the time the inning came to a close, the Griffons had sent eight hitters to the plate, erasing the A's lead completely with three runs on three hits to tie the game at 3-3 after an inning.
Hilliard continued to struggle with his control through the second inning, allowing a hit and a walk, as well as a pair of wild pitches, but the A's were unable to take advantage, ultimately keeping the game tied. Things didn't go nearly as well for Hilliard in the third, however, as the A's were able to find the scoreboard again with a run-scoring single by designated hitter Dean Long.
It could have been worse for the Griffons, however, if not for some of the best defensive play they've showcased all season long. The last two batters to come to the plate in the frame had a legitimate shot at extra bases and more runs for the A's, but Griffons right fielder David Chew and left fielder Matt Hilston robbed Mason Paxton and Austin Ascherl with a pair of spectacular catches in the outfield to send the game into the home half of the third with the A's up, 4-3.
The Griffons wasted little time getting that run back as LeWarne's control issues came back to haunt him once again in the home half of the fourth inning. Douglas got the Griffons back into the game with his first RBI of the night, driving in Clint Wobbe to tie the game at 4-4 on a sacrifice fly to left.
That tie didn't last long, however, as a single by Long resulted in a run after it was misplayed in center by Douglas resulted in the first A's run of the frame. Clarinda added one more run on an RBI double by Paxton before Mansfield elected to make his first pitching change of the night.
By the time the inning finally came to a close, the A's had taken control, plating three more runs to take a 7-4 lead. Hilliard's day came to an end after allowing seven earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts, three walks and a hit batter in 4 1/3 innings.
"He was hit and miss tonight and that's not good to see," Mansfield said of his starter. "But he's had some good outings on the year. He just had a bad outing."
Just when it looked like the Griffons might be done for, the offense came back to life in the fifth inning. Thanks to an error by A's second baseman Cory Raley, the Griffons plated three unearned runs in that frame on three hits to tie the game at 7-7, heading into the sixth inning.
That was where LeWarne's day came to an end, shutting both starters out of the final decision. LeWarne finished his outing allowing seven runs -- three earned -- on eight hits with three strikeouts and three hit batters in five innings of work.
Through the remainder of the contest, Mitch Weis dominated the A's hitters on the mound, pitching a scoreless effort through the remainder of the contest, despite the significant pressure placed on him through the circumstances surrounding his entry into the game and the length of his relief effort.
"It puts a lot of pressure on me, but I felt like I've done it, I've got enough innings under my belt this summer to where I'm confident every time I go out there," he said. "Especially when I can locate all three of my pitches like that.
"I focused on my job, controlled what I could control. And I just tried to get my team back up at the plate as quick as possible."
The Griffons had a prime opportunity to get the winning run across the plate as they loaded the bases with just one out. The winning run crossed the plate shortly thereafter as Wobbe hit a high chopper that made it through the infield to score Hilston, giving the Griffons their most exciting victory of the season by a final score of 8-7.
"That was fun," Mansfield said of the finish. "Those are always fun. We haven't had enough of those this year."
Weis ultimately picked up the win for the Griffons, allowing just three hits with seven strikeouts and a walk in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
"He did a good job for us," Mansfield said. "We were expecting to use him in long relief. ... He's starting to figure it out and that's good to see."
With the win, the Griffons kept pace with the Bombers atop the MINK League South Division standings, improving to 15-9 overall and 14-9 in League play. Next on the schedule for Mansfield's squad is Friday night, when they take on the Kansas City Monarchs in a non-league contest.
First pitch for Friday's game, which is also set to take place on Hoffman Financial Services Night, is set for 7 p.m., at Lyons Stadium.