CLIPPERS KEEP UNITED IN CHECK

HANOVERTON OH- The Columbiana Clippers rolled into Wednesday evening’s contest with United looking to make a statement in the EOAC. That statement was served loud and clear as the Clippers defeated the Eagles 16-3 on a cold blustery evening in Hanoverton.

Columbiana jumped out quickly in the 1st inning behind a leadoff home run off the bat of Freshman Maryn Hepler. The Clippers would extend their 1st inning lead to 4-0 behind RBI singles by Caitlyn Pleska and Ava Davanzo. United answered quickly in the bottom half of the 1st after a Joshlyn Irey single, Senior Colby Burton would send a Tori Long offering deep to right for the 2 run shot cutting Columbiana’s lead to 4-2.  That would be as close as United would come the rest of the way.

Freshman Caitlyn Pleska in the top of the 2nd answered with her own 2 run longball extending the Clippers lead to 7-2.  The bottom of the 3rd inning provided United a golden opportunity to get back into the game as the Eagles loaded the bases with no one out and Burton coming to the plate. Tori Long shut down any hopes of the rally as she sent Burton and Brielle Rose down swinging.

United only mustered one run in the inning making it 7-3. Columbiana would pour it on from that point adding 9 runs over the next three innings for the blowout victory.

Caitlyn Pleska turned a lot of heads as the Freshman would go 5-5 tallying 3 doubles to go along with the home run and 5 RBI. Columbiana’s battery of Tori Long 4-5 2RBI and Audrey Smith 4-5 RBI each made their presence felt all night at the plate. Julia Rapp and Ava Davanzo also contributed 2 hits each, all part of the Clippers 21 hit performance.

Long would also have her way in the circle posting the complete game surrendering just 5 hits while striking out 13.

Samantha Lippiatt would lead the United at the plate going 2-4 with a double.

Columbiana looks to stay hot as they host Lisbon on Thursday.  United has a day off before they host Southern on Friday.

*Contributed by YSN’s Chris Sigler