They hit the ball so much, it looked like base-running practice. For the first time since 1994, the Clinton High Varsity Baseball Red Devils are Region Champions. Clinton clinched the title Tuesday night with a 14-2, 5 inning win over Union County at The Sponge. This was the final regular season home game at The Sponge (named for its ability to soak up rainfall and get games back on schedule during many springs of CHS baseball). The softball field next door also is being retired for high school play, and Senior Night there is this Friday. Clinton High former baseball coach Bill Rhodes threw a strike for the ceremonial first pitch of Tuesday's game. Tristan Smaltz followed Rhodes' lead, stymieing Union bats with a 5 hitter, 1 earned run, 7 Ks and 2 walks. Clinton had 3 triples and 2 doubles in its 17-hit attack that produced an 8-0 lead by the 3rd inning. Clinton is 9-1 in region play with one region contest left - scheduled for Friday at South Pointe (Rock Hill). On Thursday morning, South Pointe will make a decision on moving the game to Thursday night - because the weekend weather could get ugly. (Clinton would not be able to play a non-region game at Ninety Six, if the South Pointe game is moved up a day). While the region title-clinching game was the final regular season contest at The Sponge, the veteran field will play host to Class AAA Upper State Playoffs games, as Clinton has earned a likely No. 1 seed.
-- Photos by Vic MacDonald/MyClintonNews.com
