Controversy Clouds the End of the Clippers Series
Flag City fell in the final game of their home series against the Muskegon Clippers on Thursday night in a wild 11–10 finish.
Making his first start as a Slugger, Carson Mellott impressed early, going 3.1 innings and allowing just one hit and one run. On the other side, Clippers starter Taylor Raade held Flag City scoreless in the 1st but ran into trouble in the bottom of the 2nd. Catcher Rylan Mills kicked things off with a single, followed by a walk drawn by 1st Baseman Jaxon Brown. Right Fielder Ryan Ruch then added a single to load the bases. Center Fielder Will Lafferty came through with a 2-RBI single to give Flag City an early 2–0 lead. Raade would regroup quickly, though, and didn’t allow another baserunner until the 6th.
Muskegon got on the board in the top of the 4th. With 3rd Baseman Casey Barnes reaching on a walk and Center Fielder Ashten Wong hit by a pitch, Designated Hitter Davis Weeks singled to load the bases. Catcher Nolan Zajac lifted a sacrifice fly to bring Barnes home and make it 2–1.
The Clippers kept the pressure on in the 6th. Zajac hit another sac fly, again scoring Barnes to tie the game. A single from 2nd Baseman Cole LeClair reloaded the bases, and Muskegon took full advantage—scoring three more runs via a walk, a sac fly, and a base hit, putting them ahead 5–2.
Flag City didn’t stay quiet for long. In the bottom of the 6th, Right Fielder Harrison Engskov was hit by a pitch. DH Andrew Stechschulte followed with a single, and 3rd Baseman Caleb Smith walked to load the bases. That ended Raade’s night, and Muskegon brought in reliever Winston Delp. Brown responded with a 2-RBI single, and Ruch knocked in another to tie the game at 5.
Momentum kept rolling in the bottom of the 7th. Lafferty singled to lead off, then Reed and pinch hitter Chris Franks followed with base hits—Lafferty scored to put the Sluggers ahead. Caleb Smith was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, and a walk to Mills plated another. Ruch struck again with a 2-RBI single, and a wild pitch brought in one more. Flag City now led 10–5 entering the 8th.
That’s when the controversy began. After Jacob Sams walked the bases loaded in the top of the 8th, Flag City attempted to bring in Hayden Gilmore, who had pitched the previous two days. Muskegon’s manager protested, citing league rules that prohibit pitchers from throwing three consecutive days. After a lengthy discussion, Gilmore was allowed to throw one pitch before being replaced by Cooper Ashby. Wong then ripped a double, scoring two, and Weeks added a single to bring home two more, cutting the lead to 10–9.
In the top of the 9th, Right Fielder Aidan Robinson singled and eventually scored after Shortstop Taylor Head’s single and a defensive error tied the game at 10. The Clippers sealed the comeback with a walk-off single from 1st Baseman Jack Bakus to make it 11–10.
Flag City will look to rebound Friday night with a doubleheader against the Grand Lake Mariners. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 5:05 PM.