Cougars start fast and finish strong in win over Timberwolves

Brayden Nicholson slides into home plate, making it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning. NUGESSE GHEBRENDRIAS/THE CLOVIS ROUNDUP

After dropping three straight Tri–River Athletic Conference games, the Clovis High Cougars baseball team responded with a 10-3 victory over the Clovis East Timberwolves on the road.

As a team, the Cougars dominated at the plate and on the mound. Noah Beal pitched six innings only allowing two earned runs on nine hits and was stout from start to finish. The junior pounded the strike zone all night, while also collecting two hits and scoring two runs at the plate.

Beal led on both fronts, but his teammates were aggressive at the plate as well.

Darrien Miller collected two hits, two runs and three RBI’s. Koby Kropf, Ian Mortenson and Brayden Nicholson combined for three hits, two RBI’s, three walks and three runs scored.

The game opened in favor of the Cougars after consecutive errors by the Timberwolves. Both Miller and Beal reached base before Mortenson’s sac fly gave the Cougars their first lead in the top of the first, 1-0.

Jalen White led off the top of the second inning with a single, before Miller drove him home for the Cougar’s second run of the game, 2-0.

Clovis was having success at the plate, but also on the mound. Beal pitched three shutout innings before allowing a Clovis East run, courtesy of Drew Veneman who came into pinch run in the bottom of the fourth.

After the Cougars added a run in the top of the fourth, they exploded for seven runs in the sixth and seventh innings.

Nicholson lit the spark for the Cougars with a walk, followed by an RBI double by Miller. Clovis had a 4-1 lead, but they were just getting warmed up.

The Cougars loaded the bases with no outs for Jake Sanders who knocked in two runs to push the lead 6-1. Clovis couldn’t manage any more in the top of the sixth inning, but made up for it in the final inning.

Back-to-back walks for Miller and Beal setup Koby Kropf who doubled in a run to make it 7-2. Clovis loaded the bases one more time with one out, putting three more runners across the plate, winning the game.

The Cougars take the victory 10-7 and now sit at 8-8 overall and 3-5 in the TRAC. They face the second game of the series at home against the Timberwolves but look next week to a matchup with one of the top teams in the TRAC, Clovis North.

For the past three years, Nugesse has been a vital part of the Madera Tribune covering sports, news, entertainment and feature writing. Nugesse’s ability to interact with the community allows him to promote students, athletes and community members with fairness and objectivity. We are happy to have Nugesse join our team here at the Clovis Roundup.