Martin lost a doubleheader to Parchment Monday, 15-4 in the opener and the second game 4-2.
“We played much better the second game,” said Martin coach Jon Gambee, “and with the exception of one inning played very well. But we went into the fifth inning ahead 2-1 and made three errors, two on one hit. They gave them two unearned runs and that was the difference in the game.
“It only goes to prove what I have preached all season long, that every play is important and if we can just pick up a routine grounder and throw it to first, we will never give up a big inning.”
The errors spoiled an outstanding pitching performance by Zeke Dillenbeck, who went the distance for Martin, giving up only one earned run, while striking out three and walking only one.
Martin runs were scored in the second inning and in the third. Vilas Morhland was hit by a pitch to lead off the second inning, advanced to third on a wild pitch and an error, and scored on a single by Peyton Hunt.
Dillenbeck led off the third with a walk, stole second and scored on an error.
Travis Thome had a single for Martin, and Zach Schwab had two hits.
In the opener, pitching was Martin’s downfall. The Clippers used three pitchers who combined for 10 walks and six batters hit by pitches.
The Clippers scored their runs in the first, third and fifth innings. In the first, Thome led off the game with a walk and advanced to third on a wild pickoff move. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Caden Curry. Dillenbeck singled and scored on a double by Jacob Robinson.
In the third inning Thome walked, stole second and advanced to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dillenbeck.
The final run came in the fifth when Thome singled, stole second and went to third on an error. He scored on a wild pitch.
Thome had one hit and scored three times for Martin. Dillenbeck had one hit and Robinson two hits.
“Travis Thome has proven to be an outstanding leadoff hitter,” Gambee said. “He is only a freshman and gets better each time out. In the second game he came up in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two out. He hit a line drive to right center field that their player made a running catch on. If it gets past him, ail three runs would have scored and we would have won the game. But I told him I was very proud of his effort. He did his job and the player from Parchment did his job. That’s baseball.
“I’m proud of my whole team,*” Gambee said. “Parchment is a Class B school and they had 20 players. We went there with only nine active players. We couldn’t even provide a courtesy runner for our catcher.”
Martin will travel to Barry County Christian Thursday.
