Updates for Bernie-Clearwater

Not sure about cell phone service at the Clearwater's field, but I'll post updates after each inning or when there's a change in scoring on our Twitter page if I can starting at 4 p.m. today (April 9).

PIEDMONT -- Ronnie Ray and Chris Kirkpatrick each delivered 3-run doubles during a 9-run fourth inning Friday to lift Clearwater past Bernie, 12-2, in a game between two state-ranked teams.

Kirkpatrick struck out eight and allowed two hits for the win to go with a 2-for-2 day at the plate. Luke Hillis, who was 2-for-3, broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth with a bases-loaded single to left. Ray followed with a bases-clearing double down the right-field line as the senior took a 1-2 curveball to the opposite field.

After consecutive walks loaded the bases with two outs, Kirkpatrick plugged the right-field gap to clear the bases to give Clearwater a 9-2 lead. Logan Morris then doubled in a run and later scored on a wild pitch.

Clearwater ended the game with one out in the fifth on Jordan Devenport's RBI groundout.

Bernie scored first in the top of the first inning on a dropped third strike, then tied the game at 2-2 in the third on Jake Owens' RBI single after Jake Welch opened the inning with a walk.

Owens took the loss, Bernie's first of the spring season, allowing eight runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three in 3 2/3 innings.

Andrew D'Amico's 2-run single in the second gave the Tigers the lead.

In the nightcap, Morris struck out 13 to hold off the Poplar Bluff Mules, 4-3.

Kendal Fay's 2-run bases-loaded hit in the third gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead. A double steal allowed another run to score later in the inning while a throwing error helped Clearwater go up 4-1.

Poplar Bluff got RBI hits from Robert Rushin in the fourth and six innings to pull within a run but left the tying run stranded at second in the sixth. Morris got out of a jam with a strikeout then set the Mules in order in the seventh with two more strike outs.

Poplar Bluff freshman Josh King scored all three runs for the Mules, who got a complete-game performance from Quinton West. The junior gave up six hits, walked four and hit one but didn't strike out a batter. He pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a pair of pop ups and retired five of the next six as the Mules rallied.

Mason Martin was 2-for-3 in the second game for Clearwater (10-0) while Ray, Hillis and Joel Koenig also had a hit each.