By John Raffel
Correspondence
CLARE – Ryan Louch collected three hits in three at bats, as Clare’s baseball team defeated Montague Wildcats 12-1 on Wednesday in a Division 3 regional semifinal game on Wednesday. Louch doubled in the first inning, singled in the fifth inning, and singled in the sixth inning.
Clare got on the board in the top of the first inning after Louch doubled, and Chase Randall hit a sacrifice fly, each scoring one run. Clare scored six runs on five hits in the top of the fifth inning. Louch singled, scoring one run, Miles Haggart singled, scoring two runs, Randall doubled, scoring two runs, and a wild pitch scored one run.
Haggart earned the win. The right-handed pitcher gave up one hit and one run over four and two-thirds innings, striking out eight and walking four.
Jayden Arthur threw two and one-third innings of zero-run ball for Clare in relief. The reliever surrendered four hits, striking out six and walking none. Clare had 12 hits in the game.
Haggart drove the middle of the lineup, leading Clare with four runs batted in. The pitcher went 2-for-4 on the day. Randall and Carter Smedley each collected multiple hits for Clare.
Clare will play at Rockford on Saturday in the Division 3 regional title game vs. Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian at 12:30 p.m. The winner advances to the state quarterfinal game afterwards at 3 p.m. at Rockford.
