Hawks edge Norris in extra-innings
Aiden Ortiz’s walk-off single capped a dramatic 11-inning comeback as Clinton Middle School outlasted county rival Norris Middle 9-8 Monday night at Jaycee Park.
The four-hour marathon ended when Ortiz lined a single to centerfield, scoring Isaac Keeton and erasing what had been an 8-6 deficit entering the bottom of the 11th.
“Hats off to Norris,” said CMS Coach Jake Lowe. “We expected to face a strong team and that’s what they brought. I’m proud of our guys for their grit and team spirit.”
Norris took an early 1-0 lead before Clinton responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Elijah Barker delivered a two-run single, and Elliott Benvenuto added an RBI groundout.
The Hawks extended their lead to 5-2 in the third when Ortiz drew a bases-loaded walk
Norris rallied to tie the game 5-5 in the fifth on Riley Kincaid’s two-run double and a run-scoring dropped third strike.
Memphis Hill’s RBI single gave Norris a 6-5 advantage in the seventh, but Jaxon Lowe forced extra innings with a two-out, game-tying single.
Norris scored twice in the top of the 11th before Clinton mounted its final rally. Jarred Pacinos drew a leadoff walk and later scored on an error, setting the stage for Ortiz’s heroics.
Colton Wright pitched seven relief innings for Clinton, allowing six hits and five earned runs while striking out eight. Lucas Parfitt started, striking out six in 3.2 innings while yielding two unearned runs. Barker and Wright each had two hits for the Hawks, who drew nine walks and stole five bases.
Clinton was to host Horace Maynard Tuesday.
