Softball: CCA claims Wamac superiority

SOLON -- In 1-vs.-1, Clear Creek Amana was the one.The Class 4A top-ranked Clippers scored the final nine runs, including six in a messy seventh inning, and ran past 3A No. 1 Solon, 11-4, in a Wamac Conference interdivisional softball showdown Wednesday night."We knew we would click eventually as long as everybody relaxed and stayed calm," said Jazmyne Neely, who rapped three hits and scored three runs -- including the go-ahead tally in the top of the sixth.Clear Creek Amana (36-1) scored in double digits for the 24th time this season and claimed superiority in the Wamac Conference. The Clippers already have the West Division title under their belts while Solon (29-5) reigns in the East.CCA didn't manage a hit through the first three innings, then reverted back to its prolific ways after that. The Clippers scored twice in the top of the fourth to tie it, 2-2, added two more in the fifth to tie it again, 4-4, then took the lead for good in the sixth.Then came the seventh, when Solon coughed up three errors to go with three hits and two walks as a had-been thriller turned into a walkaway."Good game through six innings, but we play seven," said Solon Coach Ben Sorden. "If you do the little things right, it adds up to big things. If you don't do the little things right, it goes the other way."They executed, and we didn't when we needed to."Both teams collected seven hits. The difference came elsewhere; CCA gladly accepted eight walks and four Solon errors."It's a big rivalry, and we were more excited than usual," said Clippers Coach Jim White. "I think we were a little tight early. Once we got back to 4-4, that was huge to let us relax."Solon took leads of 2-0 and 4-2, but the Clippers responded immediately both times.Tara Walls' two-run double in the fifth got CCA even at 4-4, then Mara Jones' groundout plated Neely in the sixth for the go-ahead run.The first seven Clippers reached in the seventh, three on errors."Things really got clicking at the end," Neely said. "When one person gets going, everybody gets going, then everybody gets excited."Fran Strub added two hits for the winners. Arran Weeces' two-run double gave Solon a 4-2 lead in the fourth.

Maliah Fligg, Mariah McKinnon (7) and Cassie Downes. Arran Weeces, Emily Ira (5), Weeces (7), Ira (7) and Hannah Turkal. W -- Fligg (22-1). L -- Ira (6-1).

R

H

E

Clear Creek Amana

0 0 0

2 2 1

6

--

11

7

1

Solon

0 0 2

2 0 0

--

4

7

4