Honkers Set For Regions

The Claremont Legion baseball team dropped a twin bill against Warner-Ipswich-Northwestern (WIN) last week Wednesday to wrap up regular season play and today (Wednesday) will begin postseason action. The Honkers will play the winner of Big Stone City and Webster in regional play in Ortonville, MN. The double elimination tourney continues Thursday and Friday with the regional winner advancing to the state tournament.

Claremont’s 16U team also played a doubleheader and were swept by Leola-Frederick 14-4 and 2-1. The Claremont nine plays West Central at Hartford on Monday in the first of a best-of-three series to determine a Class A state tournament berth. Claremont will host game two next week Wednesday and a game three, if necessary, will immediately follow.

WIN 6-18 Claremont 0-3

WIN took charge of a 10 game with three tallies in the fourth while blanking Claremont in the opener and then broke open a 1-1 contest in the nightcap with seven runs in the third and 10 more in the fourth to end the game after four frames.

Claremont managed just three hits in game one. Tristan Leidholt laced a pair of singles and Will Cutler doubled. Ben Gustafson started on the mound, striking out six, and Leidholt pitched the final inning and a third.

In the second game Colby Dauwen had two singles and Gustafson and Chris Cutler rapped safeties. Jack Podoll was the starting pitcher and Kassen Keough relieved in the third.

WIN 001 302 0 – 6 10 0 Claremont 000 000 0 – 0 3 1

Ashton Remily; Ben Gustafson, Tristan Leidholt (6) and Will Cutler WIN 107 (10) – 18 12 4 Claremont 012 0 – 3 4 6

L. Little; Jack Podoll, Kassen Keough (3) and Jesse Keough

Leola-Frederick 14-2 Claremont U16 4-1 Leola-Frederick broke a 44 deadlock with six third inning runs to take charge of the opener and then made two first inning tallies stand up in game two to earn the sweep.

Claremont pitchers allowed just six hits in the opening game but 11 walks and a hit batter proved costly. Colby Dauwen laced a pair of hits for the Honkers.

Game two was a pitcher’s duel with each hurler allowing just a single hit. Rennan Bruns was on the mound for Claremont and fanned three, allowing only a first inning triple. Winston Clark pitched for L-F and gave up just a single to Nate Schuller.

Claremont 103 000 – 4 5 7 L-F 046 031 – 14 6 1

Colby Dauwen, Kassen Keough (3) and Conner Glines; Noah Kippeley and Winston Clark Claremont 000 01 – 1 1 0 L-F 200 0x – 2 1 1

Rennan Bruns and Kassen Keough; Micah Kranzler and Winston Clark