It was much better the second time around.
After an ugly, error-filled April 25 loss to Wahoo/Bishop Neumann/Lincoln Lutheran, the Malcolm baseball team knew it had to clean things up before facing the Warriors again.
Mission accomplished.
The Clippers looked like a team worthy of its top 10 ranking as it picked up a 7-2 win on May 7 to advance to the championship game of the B-4 district tournament at Elkhorn North.
“We needed to play clean defense,” Malcolm head coach Zach Wehner said. “Having seven errors the first time killed us.
“Offensively, we had confidence we could hit Wahoo’s pitchers, but we needed to find the gaps.”
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, Malcolm wasted no time making up that run and adding more.
The first three Clippers to come to the plate each came around to score.
Maddox Meyer led off with a walk before Colt Reiling had a base hit to left field. The bases got loaded when Connor Zegar was hit by a pitch. All three scored as Hayden Frank, Mason Wisnieski and Jake Clarke put the ball in play. Clarke was driven in by Noah Gonyea to make it 4-1 after one inning.
Zegar took care of business on the mound in the second and third innings before turning it over to Meyer. The senior hurler struck out four.
“We were planning to keep Connor’s pitch count down so he would be available for Monday,” Wehner said. “He did a good job in those three innings, and he’ll be able to go again on Monday.”
Meyer tossed the final four innings and kept the Warriors guessing as the sophomore scattered three hits and struck out six.
“Maddox came in and got the job done,” Wehner said. “He was efficient and was able to rely on the defense to make some plays.”
The Clippers added three insurance runs in the sixth inning when a Clarke double brought Zegar home.
Then a Gonyea single to left scored Wisnieski and Clarke.
“Both Noah and Jake have been keys to getting some scoring runs started this season,” Wehner said. “We’re confident that we can get hits up and down the lineup. Those two gave us a little excitement after a couple quiet innings.”
Malcolm (14-5) was scheduled to face No. 4 Elkhorn North (18-10) Monday for the district title and a trip to the state tournament.
“They’re a tough team,” Wehner said. “They pitch well and all nine can hit the ball.
“We need to stay relaxed and just go play our game and see what happens.”
The Clippers couldn't get their offense going against Elkhorn North, losing 10-0 in six innings to end the season.
