Clippers Run Up Copperheads After Rain Delay

Jonathan Timm

Athens, OH: Last minute bus issues and a 45-minute rain delay that lead to cancelled pregame batting practice couldn’t stop the Muskegon Clippers (2-8) from shutting out the Southern Ohio Copperheads (5-5) in seven inning mercy rule 13-0 fashion at Bob Wren Stadium. The Copperheads came into the game at the top of the South Division standings.

The Clippers compiled a total of 12 hits, compared to the Copperhead six. In the largest frame of the year, six of the Clipper runs came from a five hit second inning. 

The tone was set by winning pitcher Colton Blankstrom who took just five pitches to retire the side in the first inning, and only needed seven pitches for the second. A couple of timely ground balls with the help of his defense helped Blankstrom end the second and third frame, while continuing to make it difficult for the Copperheads to rally. Blankstrom threw 85 pitchers with 55 being strikes. Additionally, Blankstrom recorded four strikeouts and had one walk while allowing five innocent hits due to his ground ball efficiency. 

Second inning success at the plate made it easy for Blankstrom to fire away. A two-RBI single from Nolan Zajac made the game 2-0 Clippers. Two batters later, Ethan Delgado hit an RBI fielder's choice to the outfield to make it 3-0. Next batter, it was Braden Graves hustling out a double to bring in another run to make it 4-0. Then while shattering his bat, Jack Backus singled to score the final two Clippers in the inning to make it a six run frame. 

The Copperheads lost command on the mound in the third inning, walking Casey Barnes with the bases loaded to make it 7-0 Clips. During the next at bat, Delgado let a wild pitch go by to score Zajac and make it an eight run advantage. Meyers would score later in the at bat after Delgado’s RBI sac fly to make it 9-0

A lone run off an RBI-single by Delgado made it 10-0 Clippers in the sixth

Three more Clips scored in the top of the 7th, consisting of Connor Kelly scoring on a wild pitch, Taylor Head hitting an RBI sacrifice fly, and Cole LeClair with a skying RBI single. 

With a decade advantage, the Clips chased to go home early, with Max Salas coming in for relief work. Salas went 1.1 innings while allowing just one hit, no earned runs, no walks and ringing up three of his four recorded outs.

The Clippers will play two more seven inning games on Wednesday, June 18th and will go for a series win in Game 1 of the double header vs. the Copperheads at 4:05. Game 2 will begin roughly 40 minutes upon the conclusion of Game 1.