RED KNIGHTS OWN THE DAY VS CLIPPERS

TORONTO, OH- On a cool overcast Saturday afternoon Columbiana made the trip to Toronto to take on the Red Knights.  It was a day that most teams were off due to the rainfall from the past two days but fans were treated to an excellent ballgame between the two ranked squads.  In the end, #11 Toronto (16-5) defeated #18 Columbiana (13-5) 6-4.

Toronto struck first, plating two runs in the first inning.  Columbiana cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Riley McElwain knocking in Bayden Pipoly.  In the bottom of the fourth inning, Toronto took control, scoring four runs to take a 6-1 lead.  The Clippers had a chance to get out of a two out bases loaded jam, but were unable to convert a ground ball into an out and the next Red Knight batter sliced a two strike pitch to right for a bases clearing double.

Columbiana loaded the bases in the fifth via a single by Devin Daugherty and walks by Colin Keleman and Bayden Pipoly but a two out fly ball to left ended the rally.

In the seventh inning ,Columbiana got things rolling in its comeback bid.  Ian Less reached on a one out single to center followed by a pinch hit double by Carson Dota to left center.  Pipoly would plate Less on an infield single.  Dota would score on a wild pitch and heads up baserunning allowed Pipoly to move from first to third on the same pitch.  Zachary Pleska’s groundout would score Pipoly and finish off the scoring for the Clippers on the afternoon.

Riley McElwain took the loss giving up four runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings pitched while striking out five.  Alex Eusebio finished off the final 2.2 innings striking out two while allowing two unearned runs.

In all the Clippers out hit Toronto 5-4 but five walks and five errors made the difference on the scoreboard.

After an off day, Columbiana will be back in action as the Lisbon Blue Devils come to town for a key EOAC matchup.  First pitch is scheduled for 5 PM.

*Contributed by Ryan Wolf