GREENCASTLE BASEBALL SECTIONAL: Cloverdale scores six in fifth, keeps Parke Heritage in check

Cloverdale center fielder Layton Allen reels in one of four inning-ending catches during Monday’s 7-2 win over Parke Heritage in the Greencastle Baseball Sectional semifinal.

Banner Graphic/TRENT SCOTT

Cloverdale scored six runs in the fifth inning, turning around a 1-0 deficit and advancing to the final of IHSAA Baseball Class 2A Sectional No. 44 7-2 Monday afternoon.

A double and an error allowed the Wolves to get on the board in the top of the first inning though starter Drake Hoffa got a pair of fly ball outs to end the early threat.

Counterpart Brenden McAmis started with a 1-2-3 first before getting into trouble in the second as a walk and two singles loaded the bases.

McAmis got a pair of strikeouts and fly ball to center field to escape the bases-loaded, no-out jam to keep the score at 1-0.

Hoffa got out of jams in the third and fourth innings to maintain the one-run gap and the Clover bats finally came alive in the fifth.

Trey Schabel drew a walk to start the inning and Layton Allen followed with a single.

Caiden Watts added a single to plate one run before Ben Campbell doubled to bring in two more runs, making it 3-1 Cloverdale and chasing McAmis for BT Luce.

Corey Branigan singled to keep things moving before a steal of second resulted in a throwing error that allowed a fourth run to score before Landon Duncan singled to make it 5-1.

An error and walk reloaded the bases where Tyson Bridges hit into a fielder’s choice that forced a run in, though the play saw two runners out due to runner interference, allowing Luce to induce a fly ball that ended the inning with the Clovers leading 6-1.

A walk and double put Parke Heritage back in business in the top of the sixth but the Wolves could only get one run across on a Jerrid Grave sac fly, reducing the deficit to 6-2.

Branigan doubled home a run in the bottom of the sixth to restore the five-run lead at 7-2 and Hoffa, despite a pair of errors and a single, coaxed a fly ball from Renn Harper to end the contest and send the Clovers to the sectional final.

Parke Heritage 100 001 0 — 2 6 2

Cloverdale 000 061 X — 7 9 3

WP — Hoffa 7 IP, 2 R (2 ER), 6 H, 3 BB, 3 K

LP — McAmis 4 IP, 4 R (4 ER), 5 H, 3 BB, 8 K

2B — Woods, McAmis, Luce; Branigan, Campbell

RBI — Luce, Graves; Campbell (2), Watts, Branigan, Duncan, Bridges