Clinton bats stay hot in 2-1 week
The Clinton Hawks experienced the full spectrum of baseball last week: an offensive explosion, a heartbreaking loss, and a dominant bounce-back performance.
The CMS Hawks Varsity opened the stretch Monday with a 21-9 win over the Rutledge Pioneers, powered by a huge day from Pearson Lollar.
Lollar drove in four runs on two hits and a walk, setting the tone for a Clinton offense that erupted for 14 runs in the second inning. The Hawks capitalized on timely hitting and patience at the plate, finishing with 10 hits, 12 walks, and seven stolen bases.
Rylan Boshears, Bryce Slaven, Kole Sliger, and Canyon Long all contributed key hits during the big inning as Clinton seized control early and never looked back.
The week took a dramatic turn Wednesday in a district matchup at Horace Maynard.
The Hawks appeared to have the game in hand after erupting for seven runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-4 lead.
Lollar again played a key role, driving in three runs, while Clinton’s offense showed its ability to apply pressure in bunches.
But Horace Maynard answered with a six-run rally in the bottom of the inning, walking off with a 10-9 win on the final play.
Despite the loss, Head Coach Jake Lowe saw signs of what his team can become.
“That fourth inning shows what this group is capable of,” Lowe said.
“We can swing it and put pressure on teams. Now it’s about tightening things up defensively so we can finish games like that.”
Clinton responded quickly Thursday, bouncing back with a 16-2 win over Lake City Middle.
Lollar continued his strong week at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, including a triple that helped spark a five-run second inning.
The Hawks added six more runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run single from Sutton McNally.
Clinton finished with 11 hits, drew nine walks, and stole 11 bases while controlling the game from start to finish.
On the mound, McNally tossed three innings, allowing no hits and no earned runs, while Keaton McNabb added a scoreless inning in relief.
Through the three-game stretch, the Hawks showed the ability to win with offense, respond to adversity, and compete in tight district contests.
