BELLVILLE, Ohio — Clear Fork coach Jeff Gottfried threw open the gates to the corral on Tuesday and the Colts ran wild.
Clear Fork swiped 10 bases and sped off with a 5-2 win over Ashland in Ohio Cardinal Conference action at Clear Fork High School.
“The kids enjoy playing that way and I enjoy coaching that way,” Gottfried said. “It’s a mentality that our kids have. They know if we’re aggressive, I’m not going to get upset if we make a mistake.”
Speedy leadoff hitter Carson Crowner set the tone in the home half of the first. She singled off Ashland ace Bry Masters, stole second, took third when the throw rolled into shallow center field and came home on a wild pitch.
“They put a lot of pressure on you,” Ashland coach Bill Herman said. “That’s always been their game, that small-ball. And they have a team that can do it. They have a nice team.”
The Colts (9-0, 5-0) used their speed to create another run in the bottom of the second. Zara Tomas drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third and came home on McKenzie Baker’s groundout.
“Against Masters, you’ve got to generate your own offense sometimes because she’s going to shut you down,” Gottfried said. “You’re not going to string three or four hits together.”
Insurance: Clear Fork scored a run in the third on Haylie Miller’s RBI fielder’s choice and added two more in the fifth. Crowner singled, stole second and third and came home on Darian Gottfried’s sacrifice bunt before Miller belted a solo home run to left center.
“I think we’ve got a good combination of some power and some speed,” Gottfried said.
In Command: The Arrows (1-6, 0-5) had a hard time solving Clear Fork ace Darian Gottfried. The senior right-hander surrendered six hits and struck out four without a walk.
“I thought she threw very well,” Jeff Gottfried said. “The biggest thing is staying away from those free passes. She didn’t allow a walk tonight.”
Masters belted a solo shot in the second and doubled in a run in the fifth.
“Masters had two hits in drove in both runs. She’s a good player and sometimes good players just get you,” Jeff Gottfried said. “Overall Darian handled the other eight kids very well.”
Leaders: Crowner had three hits and scored a pair of runs for the Colts. Miller homered, singled and knocked in two, while Whitney Snavely had a pair of hits and Macy Wade doubled.
Claire Robertson had two singles for the Arrows. Jesslyn Chambers doubled and scored a run.
