WILLARD — Mason Ball pitched beyond his years Tuesday afternoon.
Ball, Clear Fork’s sophomore right-hander, scattered four hits over 6.2 innings as the second-seeded Colts held off No. 5 Vermilion 3-1 in the nightcap of a Division IV district semifinal doubleheader in Willard.
Ball struck out nine and did not walk a batter. He allowed an unearned run in the seventh before being lifted in favor of Garret Hotz. Hotz struck out the only man he faced on four pitches for the save.
Clear Fork managed just four hits, but three came in the three-run fourth.
Mason Sansom and Jay Jackson had back-to-back singles to start the inning before Hunter Rahall walked to load the bases. Ball and Brooks Craw drew walks to plate runs and Jacob Brokaw had an infield single to drive in another.
Sansom, Jackson and Rahall scored runs, while Ball, Craw and Brokaw each drove in a run.
Vermilion scored its run in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of a Clear Fork error. The Sailors loaded the bases with two out before Hotz came in and slammed the door.
Clear Fork will play top-seeded Sandusky Perkins for the district championship at 5 p.m. Thursday in Willard. Perkins beat Shelby 9-1 in Tuesday’s early game.
(Photos by Tom Theodore)
