Whippets held to 3 hits in loss to Clyde
Shelby boys baseball bats were silenced Monday night, losing a 1-0 nonconference game to Clyde at the Whippet Athletic Complex.
The Whippets were held to three singles, committed three errors and had a key runner thrown out on the base paths in the loss.
Casey Lantz took the tough luck loss on the mound.
In just his second pitch- ing appearance in two years, Lantz threw six innings of six-hit ball, allowing one run, walking one and striking out five.
Jon Amicone spoke about Lantz’s performance. “That was a big time start by Casey Lantz, he was tremendous and our whole team,” Amicone said. “Coaches and players are extremely proud of him. We are all disappointed we couldn’t push some runs across for him because he pitched well enough to get a win”
Clyde scored the only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. After an out, a Clyde base runner reached base via an error. A single put runners on first and second.
Lantz was able to get the baserunner on second in a run down. The runner eventually was tagged out, but the runner on first advanced to second on the play.
With two outs, Clyde then drove a base hit up the middle to score the only run of the game.
Shelby had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but a base runner was caught stealing third and a ground out ended the game.*
Amicone spoke about the loss.
“Ultimately they played better defense than us, and in tight games that is usually the difference, as it was tonight,” he said.
“I can’t speak enough on how much I like this team,” Amicone said. “These guys compete and they play for each other. They all love each other. I’ve seen it with this class in football and basketball, and it’s even more prevalent in baseball.”
“Our tough week continues tomorrow with Clear Fork who is a top team in the area, but I have confidence that these players will learn from the Clyde game and that it will prepare them for Clear Fork,” Amicone said.
Quinton Albert, Karsen Homan and Tanner Hartz had the three base hits for Shelby.
Maverick Noel pitched a perfect seventh inning for Shelby.
The Whippets play two huge conference games against Clear Fork. Shelby, 4-1 in the Midohio Athletic Conference, entertains Clear Fork, 5-2 in the conference on Tuesday before heading to the valley Wednesday. Both games are scheduled to start at 5:15 p.m.