Clarkston outlasts Mott, Avondale to earn regional berth

SWINGING FOR IT: Clarkston's Dylan Peck and the Wolves took thier best swings Saturday and outlasted Waterford Mott and Auburn Hills Avondale for a Division 1 district championship. File Photo.

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

CLARKSTON — After reaching the Division 1 regional finals a year ago, Clarkston had set its sights on making another long tournament run this season.

The Wolves took their first step Saturday at home. Clarkston captured a Division 1 district crown, topping Waterford Mott, 7-6, in 10 innings in the semifinals and Auburn Hills Avondale, 12-9, in the finals.

“We found a way to win two very tough ballgames,” offered veteran Clarkston coach Phil Price, whose program has won over a half dozen district titles since he took over the program in 1999, including a run to the Final Four in 2002. “It was very hot out, but our pitchers battled, fought through it. We executed when we had to (in order to) win. Avondale got up on us early and we came back and took the lead and hung on. I’m really proud of the boys. ”

Fighting through temperatures in the upper 90s, it took four different pitchers to help Clarkston get past Avondale in the finals, as Andrew Fairse, Vince Siwicki, Jake Forsten and Matt Rodgers all spent time on the mound, giving up nine runs and 10 walks.

After Avondale’s Bryan Portelli connected for a two-run homer, Rodgers pulled the same feat for Clarkston with his own two-run dinger, part of the Wolves’ 11-run outburst during the first three innings. The Wolves (22-7) never trailed after that.

Rodgers also gained the save in the finals, which saw Avondale plate seven runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Rodgers came on with one on in the final frame.

CALL TO ARMS: Clarkston's Matt Rodgers gained the save in a district finals win over Auburn Hills Avondale Saturday to lead the Wolves into reginal play. File Photo.

“He went in there and battled and got us out (of the inning),” said Price of Rodgers. “Avondale hung in there and made it close.”

Avondale finished the season 16-11, although the Yellowjackets’ pitching staff issued 14 walks in the defeat. Avondale, which had won four straight districts and lost in the regional semifinals each of the past four years, slipped past Waterford Kettering to reach the finals.

The Wolves had to work a few extra innings before ousting Waterford Mott in the semifinals.

Siwicki, Rodgers and Fairse all pitched in the opener as well, with Fairse gaining the win.

“We knew, with the heat, that this was not going to be easy,” added Price.”At this stage, it’s not about winning pretty. We won (with guts).”

Clarkston advances to the Oxford regional next Saturday, where the Wolves will face Utica Eisenhower at 10 a.m. Hartland and Romeo will play in the other regional semifinal.

The regional champion will advance to the state quarterfinals June 14, with the Final Four set for Battle Creek June 17-18

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com

Category: Uncategorized