The Claremont Legion baseball squad and the VFW junior high club both dropped doubleheaders in the past week.
The Legion nine fell to Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern (WIN) 7-0 and 6-2, while the junior high team lost to Webster 8-4 and 16-3. The Honkers Legion team played a makeup game with Leola-Frederick on Monday and hosted WIN last night Tuesday.
Claremont’s Legion will open regional tournament play in Milbank this Tuesday against Milbank 30 minutes after the tourney opener matching Big Stone City and Groton at noon. Sisseton will take on the Big Stone City-Groton winner in the 5 p.m. nightcap. Tournament play will continue July 22-23 with the first championship game of the double elimination event at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 23, followed by a second title matchup if necessary.
The junior high squad will play Webster in a makeup contest tonight (Wednesday) and play in the state tournament in Gregory beginning Friday, July 24.
WIN Legion 7-6
Claremont 0-2
Claremont was the victim of a no-hitter in the opener and WIN’s five-run third inning in the nightcap resulted in the sweep.
Mac Heinz hurled the no-hitter for WIN, striking out eight and not walking a batter. Kassen Keough went the distance on the mound for Claremont.
“We hit the ball hard a few times but WIN played great defense,” said Honkers’ boss Joe Gustafson. “Kassen pitched well for us, giving up just three earned runs.”
Claremont led the second contest 1-0 after two innings but WIN’s big third inning decided the contest. Rennan Bruns allowed just one earned run but three errors hurt the Honkers. Chris Cutler and Korbin McKane both singled for Claremont
Webster VFW JH 8-16
Claremont 4-3
Webster out-hit Claremont just 8-7 in the doubleheader but turned those hits, plus 20 walks, into 24 runs to earn the sweep.
The Honkers out-hit Webster in game one 6-4 and battled back from a 4-1 deficit to tie the opener at 4-4 after four frames before Webster erupted for four fifth inning tallies. Case Reints, Korbin McKane, Carter Glines, Bentlee Zerr, Charlie Schuller, and Tony Cutler all singled. Reints struck out nine in four innings.
In game two the Honkers trailed just 5-3 after three innings but the visitors exploded for 11 fourth inning runs. Korbin McKane came up with Claremont’s only hit, while Zerr started on the mound and allowed just one hit and struck out four in two innings but was tagged with the pitching loss.
FOR FULL STATS SEE THIS WEEK'S JOURNAL
