Kendal Brewer Throws Complete One-Hitter in Nail Biting Loss

Jonathan Timm

Hillsdale, MI: Runs came at a premium on Thursday as the Muskegon Clippers (1-5) fell to the Michigan Monarchs (5-1) by a score of 2-1 at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium in Hillsdale, MI. The rubber match closed out a three game set between the Clippers and Michigan Monarchs after the Clippers took game two on Wednesday.

Shining on the mound for the Clippers was Kendal Brewer who went the complete eight innings in his second outing of the year. This was the longest outing by a Muskegon Clipper since ‘23 Clipper Jack Decker went 8 innings long in Game 1 of the 2023 GLSCL Playoffs against the Lima Locos. This was also the first Clipper to complete a non-shortened game since ‘22 Clipper James Geshel went nine strong against the former league member Sandusky Bay Ice Haulers. Brewer allowed just one hit, one earned run, three walks and struck out seven. 

Brewer in total threw 88 pitches with 53 of them being strikes. 

The lone Monarch knock went over the wall which was a two run home-run for Christian Holmes in the fourth inning. Wyatt Epple, the game's lone unearned run, reached on an error to start the inning and set the table for Holmes.

Offense was another lonesome day for the Clippers, who couldn’t find the big swing with runners on base. Despite a season low in strikeouts at the plate, the Clips ended the day with just four hits. The Clippers stranded five runners in scoring position during the final three frames at the plate, with ten on the day total. 

Two of the Clipper hits were singles from Jack Bakus and Cole LeClair, while Casey Barnes doubled for the second day in a row.

Cutting the two run lead in half with a hooking clanker off the right field foul pole was Ashten Wong the eighth, his second home run of the year.

Second year Monarch Daniel Wilcome was too much for the Clippers, getting the win on the mound and went six innings with no earned runs, one walks and three hits while punching out five. Johnny Staviola would get the save credits in his 1.1 innings of work.

The Clippers will look to regroup this weekend as they host the Flag City Sluggers at Marsh Field at 6:35 on Friday/Saturday, and 5:05 on Sunday.