Stoney Creek sweeps crucial pair from Clarkston
CLARKSTON — At the beginning of the season, few coaches mentioned that Rochester Stoney Creek would have the lasting power to contend in the OAA Red Division.
The Cougars are the ones having the last laugh. Entering the week in a four-team race with Clarkston, Lake Orion and Troy Athens, the Cougars recorded two more crucial league wins during the final week of the regular season, rallying for a 7-5, 5-4 double-header sweep over Clarkston Tuesday to remain in first place.
The nightcap went nine innings.
In the first game, Stoney Creek went on a five-run tear in the top of the seventh inning to pull ahead for good. Clarkston was able to add a run in the bottom half of the frame but could not complete a comeback.
Niko Gonzales had a sacrifice fly and Mike McKinley belted a three-run home run, his only hit in the game in the seventh for the beef of the rally. Trent Drumheller was 4-for-4 with an RBI and scored three times for the Cougars (19-7, 12-3).
Clarkston (18-6, 7-5) led 3-1 after the first inning and 4-2 through three frames.
Connor Morris was 2-for-4 and Chase Toth was also 2-for-4, including an RBI triple for the Wolves.
Drumheller had the win in relief, giving up one hit in one inning of work. Zak Northrup scattered three hits in one frame to gain the save for Stoney Creek.
In the nightcap, Drumheller gained the win in relief, going 3 2/3 innings, giving up two hits, one run while walking three and fanning one.
Stoney Creek scored two in the fourth, one in the seventh to forge a 3-3 tie, then pushed across two more in the ninth to prevail. The Cougars had 14 hits in Game 2,paced by Drumheller, who was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Ben Yax collected four hits in five plate appearances with three RBI.
Toth was 3-for-4, drove home one run and stole three bases, while Jake Sims was 2-for-3 with three RBI for Clarkston, which scored two in the third, one in the fifth and one in the top of the ninth.
Clarkston led 4-3 in the top of the ninth, thanks to an sacrifice fly by Sims, who plated Toth. Andrew Fairse went all nine innings for Clarkston yet suffered the loss.
In the bottom of the ninth, Yax came through with the game-inning RBI.
Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester Stoney Creek
