SMI Victorious In Clarion Area Little League Opener (04/25/15)
(By SMI Manager Eric Simko)
The 2015 Clarion Little League season officially debuted Tuesday night(April 21st). SMI faced Rotary in what turned out to be a great opener.
On the mound for Rotary was Cal GERMAN. The first batter of the year was Christian SIMKO who lined out to the Rotary shortstop Hayden SIEGEL. Hayden CALLEN then reached base on an error for SMI and stole 2nd base. GERMAN struck out the next two batters, but not before CALLEN could score at home.
Hayden CALLEN took the mound for SMI and faced three batters; CALLEN sat down all three. After one inning of play; SMI led 1-0.
The top of the second saw GERMAN strike out two batters and got Timmy CRAIG to ground out to short.
Tommy SMITH led off for Rotary in the bottom of the inning and promptly lined a single to centerfield. It was the first hit given up by CALLEN and the first hit of SMITH’s Little League career. Hayden CALLEN struck out the next three batters. SMI led 1-0.
GERMAN struck out the first two SMI batters to start the 3rd inning. Christian SIMKO then reached first on a fielding error, Hayden CALLEN then tripled to the right field fence scoring SIMKO. Connor CROMER then reached first on a fielding error scoring CALLEN from third. GERMAN struck out the next SMI batter to end the half inning.
CALLEN struck out the first two Rotary batters and GERMAN was put out at first to end the inning. After three innings of play; SMI led 3-0.
In the 4th inning Cal GERMAN struck out the side for Rotary. CALLEN did more a less the same as he struck out two and induced a fly out to 1st base.
In the 5th; GERMAN would face his last batter of the night, he recorded his final strikeout. Brady FOWKES then took the mound for Rotary; FOWKES struck out one and got a line out to first base.
CALLEN faced three batters in the bottom of the 5th; striking out all three.
In the top of the 6th Hayden CALLEN reached base on another triple; he would eventually steal home. CROMER was hit by a pitch and stole 2nd base. CROMER then stole 3rd base. The next two SMI batters were retired by FOWKES. With two out and a man on third Jack CALLEN reached on a fielding error that scored CROMER. Though it wouldn’t go down in the books as his first Little League hit, it did the job! FOWKES struck out the next batter to end the half inning.
Hayden CALLEN would face his last batter of the night, striking him out. Christian SIMKO then took the mound for SMI and hit the first batter he faced; Jake SMITH. Rotary was now at the top of their order. GERMAN singled off SIMKO. SMI began to feel the heat; with SMITH at 3rd and GERMAN at 2nd, an infield error and smart base running plated both runners. SIMKO collected himself and struck out the final two batters of the night.
SMI 5 – Rotary 2.
Pitchers: SMI: H. CALLEN 17 batters/14 strikeouts. C. SIMKO 4 batters/2 strikeouts.
ROTARY: GERMAN 18 batters/11 strikeouts. FOWKES 7 batters/3 strikeouts.
Hits: SMI: Hayden CALLEN 2 triples
ROTARY: Cal GERMAN single; Tommy SMITH single.
(Thanks to Coach Simko for this article.)