Clippers Fall in Extra Innings to Monarchs

Jonathan Timm

Muskegon, MI: The Muskegon Clippers (10-16) fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Michigan Monarchs (13-13) in ten innings on Saturday, July 5th at Historic Marsh Field with a final score of 9-8.

This was the third extra innings game of the homestand, dating back to Tuesday and Wednesday/Thursday vs. the Lima Locos. 

After a 6-0 Clipper lead, the Monarchs stormed back to go on a 9-2 run in innings five through ten to put them back ahead three games in the GLSCL standings.

Max Salas got the start on the mound for the Clippers and pitched into the fifth inning. In his four complete innings, Salas tossed three strikeouts while allowing two walks, three hits and three earned runs. 

While Salas went his first four scoreless, the Clippers got the bats rolling early in the contest. A fly ball that went under the fence in left field was ruled a lead-off solo homerun by Ethan Delgado to put the Clips on top 1-0 after the first. 

The Clips tacked on more runs in the second against Monarch starting pitcher Matthew Hubbard in the second courtesy of an RBI-double from Davis Weeks to make it 2-0 in the second. Delgado drew an RBI-walk to make it 3-0, followed by both Jack Backus and Braden Graves grounding into back-to-back fielders choices to bring two more home and making it 5-0 Clips after two. 

Graves would have a second RBI in the fourth inning on a single to score Ashton Wong, bringing the peak Clipper lead to six.

After the Monarchs brought three home in the fifth inning, Wong drove in a pair with his two-RBI single in the bottom of the frame to make it 8-3 Clippers. 

A trio of more Monarch runs came in the sixth inning.

After Alex Hardacre’s day was done, Jaxon Huffman pitched his best outing of the year upon taking the reins of relief. Huffman pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and was able to strand two inherited and two allowed baserunners during his time on the mound. 

With his team trailing 8-6, Kenny Mikinley sent a two-run homerun into the left center trees off Clipper relief pitcher Connor Kelly to tie the game at eight runs a piece. McKinley now has five homers on the year. 

After a stalemate ninth, a once in a lifetime catch from Luke Noack, and two leather-flashing plays from shortstop Taylor Head, an extra inning was needed to decide a winner.

The Monarchs took a 9-8 lead off a Clipper error to give the away team an advantage.

Monarch closer and winning pitcher Johnny Stovola was able to strand Casey Barnes at second after his two out double in the bottom of ten. Braden Graves was thrown out at first for the final out and the end of the game.

Monarchs were able to capitalize on five Clipper infield errors and a total of 13 hits. The Clippers scored eight runs off nine hits and no Monarch errors. 

The rubber match will take place at Hillsdale College on July 6 at 4:35, with the Facebook Live pregame show beginning at 4 PM ET.