Clover Hill Takes Game 1

By Nolan Potts
Clover Hill stole home field advantage in the RCBL Finals and held off Bridgewater in the final two innings of Game 1 and won, 4-2.

The Bucks opened the scoring in the top of the second when an Alex Knicely groundout scored Luke Shiflett, and an error on the play enabled Lucas Bauer to score and make the score 2-0. The Bucks would extend the lead to 3-0 with a run in the sixth inning on a Bryce Suters RBI single that drove home Drew Easter.

Bridgewater would finally get on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Mason Hamilton reached on an error that scored Grey Sherfey, and then again in the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk to Cam Herron. The Reds left the bases loaded in the eighth and trailed 3-2 heading into the ninth.

Derek Shifflett took over for Huffman in the eighth for the Reds and threw a scoreless inning, but the Bucks were able to add one in the top of the ninth on an RBI double off the bat of Drew Easter that drove in Kevin Navedo to make it 4-2.

But the Reds did not go down without a fight. Tyler Conley, who started Game 4 of the semifinals for the Bucks, came in to try to pick up the save. Brett Tharp led off with a walk. Mason Hamilton grounded into a fielder’s choice for out number one. The next batter (Huffman) singled, but Conley got a groundout and a strikeout to strand the tying run at second base.

Both starting pitchers (Chris Huffman for Bridgewater, and Reid Long for Clover Hill) were strong in this game. Huffman went seven innings, allowing five hits, three runs (two earned) while striking out eight. Long went 6.2 innings and allowed eight hits, one run (zero earned) and struck out six.

For Bridgewater, Huffman had three hits while Corbin Lucas, Sherfey, and Herron each had two hits.

Clover Hill was led offensively by Luke Shiflett’s two hits, while six other players had one hit.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at Buck Bowman Park at 7:45 PM.

                         R      H      E
Clover Hill       4      8      2
Bridgewater    2     10     2
Win: Reid Long
Loss: Chris Huffman
Save: Tyler Conley

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