They kept fighting. Even with their backs against the wall. Even down 6-0 in the second inning, the Spartans kept putting runners on and giving themselves a chance. They made Clear Creek Amana (CCA) earn their shot at advancing to the finals.
“We knew if we just kept grinding, we could put ourselves in a situation to win. We got guys in scoring position, and we had people up we wanted. We just couldn’t get that big hit. That was the difference in the game,” said Spartan Head Coach Keith McSweeney.
The Spartan baseball season ended just short of an appearance in Substate finals as they fell to Clear Creek Amana 2-6. They played from behind the entire game and were able to get traffic on the basepaths but stranded the runners they needed to bring home.
It was a rough outing by starting pitcher Jackson Link. He had a solid start to the game, getting two outs in the first three batters and walking the other. With two outs and two strikes on the next batter, Link was well on his way to a scoreless first inning. The payoff pitch found the location he wanted, but the CCA batter put a swing on the ball and barely pushed it over the fence for a two-run home run. McSweeney said, “He just put a good swing on it, it was a good pitch. That just changed the flow for us.”
The following inning Link could not catch a break. Every grounder found a hole in the defense and the Clippers scored four runs on four singles. The Spartans had yet to have their fourth batter of the game at the plate and they found themselves down 6-0.
Tyson Wheeler pitched the final five innings of the game for Solon. Wheeler was able to keep the Clippers off the scoreboard the rest of the way, giving the offense a glimmer of hope. “His game is to pitch to contact and get guys out. He shut the door and gave us a chance,” said McSweeney.
However, the Spartans could not get anything working on offense until the final inning. They had four hits and three walks going into the seventh, with only one run to show for it. The CCA southpaw on the mound made it a frustrating evening for the Spartans. Solon’s lefty-dominated lineup struggled to hit the nasty left-handed curveball they faced. McSweeney said, “It took us a couple at bats to adjust and by the time we did they got him out and their young guy came in and stepped up.”
Down to their final outs of the season – and for some, their high school career – the offense got on a roll. After back-to-back runners got on base to start the inning, Brett White knocked in a run to get within four runs. With two outs, Vince Steinbrech hit a single to load the bases. The Spartans had the tying run at the plate in the form of Maddox Kelley. Kelley hit a sharp grounder just to the right of second base. The Clipper’s second baseman ran it down just in time and made the throw to first. Just like that, the comeback was over, and the season was in the books.
It was the final game in a Solon uniform for seniors Gehrig Turner, Tyson Wheeler, Brick Kabela, Josh Milliman, Vince Steinbrech, Cole Farnsworth, Kaden Hanson, Garret Stebral, and Brett White. After the final out, the emotions were showing as those seniors realized their chapter had officially ended. They met in a huddle after the game and shared that final moment together as a team. McSweeney said, “I just told them I love being their coach and their teacher and I’m going to miss them all.”