BELLVILLE — There’s more to Clear Fork than slap hits and stolen bases.
The Colts broke out the heavy lumber on a chilly but cloudless Wednesday afternoon, pounding out four extra base hits in a run rule-shortened 15-2 win over Ohio Cardinal Conference nemesis Lexington.
Clear Fork (11-3, 5-3) avenged Tuesday’s 7-3 loss to its bitter backyard rival to salvage the season split. Lady Lex dipped to 6-10, 4-4.
“Once we get hitting, everything falls into place,” said No. 3 hitter Anna Myers, who belted a pair of doubles and drove in three runs. “Obviously we are as fast as lightning, especially at the top of our order with TK (Taylor Kline). It all starts at the top and works its way down. Hitting is contagious.”
The Colts, who struck out 12 times against Lexington ace Abbie Sgro on Tuesday, got it going against the hard-throwing junior early Wednesday. Clear Fork took advantage of three Lady Lex errors to score five runs in the bottom of the first. Kline and clean-up hitter Montana Walker had hits in the frame and Erika Farst drove in a run.
“We hadn’t seen pitching that fast all year and it’s hard when it’s your first time doing it,” Clear Fork coach Jeff Gottfried said. “We had some time so before we came out we cranked the pitching machine up.
“Any time you can see the same kid two nights in a row it helps.”
The Colts added three more runs in the home half of the second. Kline, who set the state’s single season stolen bases record with 72 last spring, set the table with a leadoff walk and pair of stolen bases. Farst singled and scored on the first of Myers’ doubles. Myers scored on Macey Ruhl’s sacrifice fly.
“To put a five spot on the board in the first takes a lot of pressure off. That is what we would like to do every game but it doesn’t always happen,” Gottfried said. “What I really liked is what we did after the first inning. We kept the pressure on and continued to add on.”
Lady Lex scored in the top of the third on a double by Morgan Zeigler before the Colts blew it open in the bottom of the frame. Clear Fork sent 10 batters to the plate and scored six runs. Myers had a two-run double, followed by a a three-run home run by Walker.
“Our kids were a little more disciplined tonight than we were at their place,” Gottfried said. “We chased some pitches out of the strike zone (Tuesday) when they didn’t need to.
“Our girls know that their backs are against the wall if they want to stay in contention (for a league title). We have three losses in the conference and we can’t have any more if we want to have a chance at it.”
Lexington scored its final run in the fourth when Sgro doubled to lead off the inning and eventually scored on a past ball. Clear Fork avoided further damage with a nifty 5-3-2 double-play.
The Colts, who committed five errors in Tuesday’s loss, were error-free Wednesday.
“We had five errors and struck out 12 times (Tuesday),” Tonight we didn’t have an error and we couldn’t have struck out more than two or three times. It really makes a difference.”
The Colts banged out 12 hits. Farst had three singles and scored three runs, while Kline had two base hits and scored four runs. Myers doubled twice and Walker homered and singled. Micaela Fidler also had a double.
Zeigler led Lady Lex with a single and a double. Sgro also doubled.
The Colts will play at the Keystone tournament over the weekend before meeting conference-leading Ashland in what could be a pivotal two-game series next week.
“We know we can’t afford to lose any more conference games,” Myers said. “We have to keep attacking and getting wins.”
The Colts, who have won or shared five conference championships, including four straight from 2008 to 2011, find themselves in an unfamiliar position.
“I think our kids like the underdog role. They haven’t been there in a while,” Gottfried said. “We have Ashland next week. Even though we don’t control our own destiny, we can put the pressure on them and put ourselves in a good spot.”
Lexington will host Fredericktown for a doubleheader Saturday before meeting Madison in a home-and-home conference series next week.
Lexington coach Mike Hamman declined comment.
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
