LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON – A massive first inning scoring surge proved to be the deciding factor in Friday’s action between the Muskegon Clippers and Michigan Monarchs.

The Clippers came out on top, 12-8.

Everything went right for Muskegon in the first inning. After sitting down the Monarchs, the Clippers went on a nice scoring run to start the night.

Stoney Smith got things going with a lead-off single and advanced to third after stealing a base and benefiting from a wild pitch. Aaron Piasecki was walked in the next at bat, allowing Colin Cornwell to score both of his teammates on a single of his own.

That didn’t end the hitting spree either. In the same inning, Donovan Rinehart and Aidan Arbogast both notched singles and were promptly brought in thanks to a three-run homer from Brandon Scheurer.

With a six-run lead, the Clippers had all the runs they needed to put things on cruise control. That mindset lasted over the course of the next inning, but was quickly wiped out when the Monarchs found four runs of their own in the top of the third.

Wanting to build their lead back up, the Clippers took advantage of a new arm on the mound for their opponent. Scheurer got on base to start after taking a pitch to his body and after consecutive singles for Nicolas Hawkins and Danny Passinault, he was back inside the dugout quickly with the score reading 8-4. Piasecki also singled in the third, bringing home another run that put Muskegon up by five.

The Monarchs held Muskegon scoreless in the fifth inning and added a run of their own in the same frame. Things got really interesting in the sixth inning as the Monarchs scored three runs and held the Clippers without a run yet again, trimming the deficit to just a single run at 9-8.

Muskegon had no intention of allowing that comeback to continue and it showed in the bottom of the seventh.

Caleb Sanders earned a walk after being brought in for Hawkins and the same result for Smith put two runners on base. Piasecki and Cornwell both singled to bring some runs across and the Clippers were able to coast to the finish on a four-run advantage.

Andrew Dukesherer got the win on the mound after just two innings of work to start the game. He didn’t allow a single hit or run and recorded three strikeouts. Scheurer was awarded a save after striking out two in the last two innings.

Piasecki was the Clippers’ leader at the dish, going 3-for-3 with two RBI. Cornwell and Scheurer were responsible for bringing the most runs across as each had three RBI.

A win at Marsh Field is always nice for the Clippers (29-5) and they will look to turn it into a nice winning streak as they host the Lima Locos at 4:05 p.m. Saturday for games two and three of their five-game homestand to end the year.

Photos by LSJ photographer Joe Lane