Wolves ready to take bite of regional glory
SKY'S THE LIMIT: Clarkston's Jake Sims watches his hit fly in a game earlier in the season. Sims is one of 12 seniors on the Wolves' roster aiming for the school's first regional championship since 2002. File Photo
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — A year ago Clarkston got a taste or regional play. Now, the Wolves are chomping at the bit to go a step further.
The Wolves (22-7) will face MAC Red champion Utica Eisenhower at 11 a.m. Saturday at Oxford High School for a Division 1 baseball regional semifinal, with Hartland and Romeo facing in the second semifinal.
“We have a large senior class which had high expectations this season,” said Phil Price, Clarkston’s head coach since 1999. “When we are playing well, we can beat some teams.”
A year ago, the Wolves reached the Sweet 16 before a regional finals loss to Rochester Adams ended their season. Adams had a senior-laden team last spring, much like Clarkston does this year.
The Wolves have 12 seniors, seven that start regularly, including a pair of standouts in center fielder Chase Toth, who has signed with Michigan State, and pitcher Matt Rodgers, a second team all-stater last season. Andrew Fairse and Vince Siwicki join Rodgers to give the team three quality arms — a necessity when making a long run.
“If we get good pitching, then we’ll have a chance,” said Price, who coached a Final Four team back in 2002, when the Wolves lost in the state semifinals to Portage Northern. The Wolves had plenty of capable arms that season.
Clarkston went through a rough patch during the final month of the regular season, when most of their losses occurred. The team has been strong the past two weeks, including a pair of one-run wins last weekend in the districts against Waterford Mott and Auburn Hills Avondale.
“We found ways to win a couple of tough ballgames,” said Price, who admitted he knows very little about the three teams in his regional this season, as Clarkston has not played any of those schools in non-league games. “At this time of year, that’s what you need to do.
“We’ll get ready for Eisenhower. They are always a quality team,” said Price. “I know Hartland has a couple of good pitchers and Romeo has a good team. We’ll get a good look at them if we win our (first game) Saturday.”
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Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps
