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Slumping Clippers’ overall baseball season record slips to 5-18

The Martin baseball team fiMartin at 5th 3rdnished a dismal week by dropping a doubleheader to visiting Kalamazoo Hackett Friday, losing the first game 16-0 and the second 10-0. The Clippers started the week by losing two games to Holland Calvary at Fifth Third Ballpark in Grand Rapids May 14. The Clippers lost the first game to Calvary 10-5 and the second 2-0.

“We played well,” said coach Jon Gambee, “though the scores do not indicate it. We were actually ahead 3-1 in the opener and trailed only 6-5 going into the last inning. But then we had trouble finding the plate with our pitches and Calvary took advantage of that to score four times in the last inning.

“In the second game, we gave up two runs in the first inning, but could not put anything across the board ourselves. It was a real pitcher’s duel from that point on. Garrett Dill pitched a very strong game, allowing only one base runner after that first inning. We just could not give him any support.”

Martin played a single game last Monday at Kalamazoo Christian and lost 7-2.

“Again we started out slowly, falling behind 6-0 after two innings, Gambee said. “We actually outscored them 2-1 after that point and Christian is a very good team. They were 14-4 going into the game.”

Friday against Kalamazoo Hackett, the Clippers could never get untracked. They were mercied in both games, losing 16-0 in four innings in the opener and 10-0 in five inning in the nightcap.

“We did not get a hit in the first game,” Gambee said. We actually had only one baserunner, Hunter Fitzpatrick who reached on an error.”

Martin got only two hits in the second game, singles by Caleb Hunderman and Tanner Curry.

The five losses dropped Martin’s season record to 5-18. The Clippers will play a pre-district game against Lawrence at Decatur Tuesday with the winner advancing to the district tournament at Decatur next Saturday.

PHOTO: Martin lost a doubleheader May 14 to Holland Calvary in twin bill play at Fifth Third Park, home of the Tigers’ Minor League affiliate, the West Michigan Whitecaps.

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