By Christopher Shaban
Staff Writer
SUNAPEE — The Lakers baseball team improved to 1-1 on the season after a season-opener home victory against Hanover followed by a next-day loss to the same team.
Sunapee starter Drew Clifford pitched five innings for the Lakers in the second match-up in two days and gave up just two earned runs, walking two batters and striking out three.
Offensively, the Lakers were led by senior slugger Harper Flint who was 2-3 with a 310-foot wall-ball single. Sammy Flint was 1-3 with a double while Hunter Morse was 1-3. The Lakers defense played well again today.
“The early-season games, especially against some of the bigger schools, are an opportunity to see some solid pitching and be put in situations that will help down the road,” said Sunapee head coach Tom Frederick.
The 1-1 Hanover series was succeeded by a hard-fought 5-2 win over Hinsdale.
Sophomore Jon Roth made his first varsity start going six innings striking out 10 while giving up just three hits and one walk on the day.
Harper Flint finished the game for the Lakers notching two strikeouts in an inning.
The Lakers pulled out some great defense turning a 6-4-3 late in the game at a key moment.
Offensively for the green-and-white, Harper Flint went 2-3 with a run scored while Phil “The Hammer” Ritzmann had a big RBI early in the game.
The Sunapee softball team improved to 2-0 on the season after Natalie Austin pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts and two base on balls while only allowing two runs at Hinsdale in a 6-2 victory.
Austin also had a day at the plate going 3 for 4 with a double and 3 RBIs. Molly Reed added a double going 1-3 and one run scored, Kathryn Hastings added a hit plus an RBI and scored a run.
The Lakers also clinched their season-opener game against Hanover with a 17-4 win.
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