Big bats doing Wildcats' talking

The top of the batting order for Clear Creek's baseball team is comprised of accomplished players who strike fear into the hearts of any opponent without a dominant pitching staff.

The bad news for the Wildcats is those kids have not been hitting like everybody knows they can. The good news is everybody else is swinging the bat well.

That's the biggest reason why Clear Creek is still alive in the playoffs. The Wildcats will face off against powerful Langham Creek in a best-of-three series this week with the victor moving onto the Class 6A, Region III championship round.

The Wildcats have survived without much production from the top of their order to this point. If they're going to advance again they're likely to need hits from everybody in the lineup.

"The top half is still struggling," Clear Creek coach Brent Kunefke said. "We're going to the regional semifinals with our one through four not hitting very well. That's a credit to the whole team."

With two games left in the regular season, the bottom of the order started to pick up some steam at the plate. The Wildcats scored 13 runs in those last two games and carried that momentum into the the playoffs. They have averaged six runs per game in the playoffs.

The offense was not great in Saturday's decisive game against Pearland - a 4-3 victory. The runs the Wildcats did get came from the bottom of the order.

Garrett Poston had RBIs in his first two-at bats. Austin Adams had two doubles. Parker Osburn had three hits. Ben Rigby and Poston led the team with two quality at-bats. In all, the last five hitters in the Clear Creek order went 7-for-15.

"It's a good feeling to be productive and be like those guys at the top of the lineup," Poston said.

Holding onto the momentum this week will be a challenge so Clear Creek could use some help from the top-of-the-order hitters Michael Rohland, Satchel McElroy, Landon Etzel and Harrison Hill.

When those players are on top of their game Clear Creek has a dangerous lineup. Combine that with the bottom of the order producing and the Wildcats might have a team worthy of winning the regional championship.

"It has been amazing to watch," Pitcher Aron Solis said. "Our underclassmen stepping in and doing their job has been great. If the top four hitters can start doing their job and the pitchers do theirs we could be unstoppable."

Bound for college

Eight Clear Lake athletes last week signed national letters of intent to play sports in college. Alex Britz and James Carr signed with the Concordia University baseball team. Jake West signed with the Trinity University baseball team. Alex Woerner signed with the Trinity University track and field team. Hannah Stiger signed with the Blackhawk College East Campus volleyball team. Dayla LaRoque signed with the Sewanee University of the South soccer team. Nick McGee signed with the Hardin-Simmons football team. Samantha Norlin signed with the University of South Dakota swimming team.