Clayton is preparing for their first conference matchup of the season on Tuesday. They will host the Willow Spring Storm at 7:00 p.m. Clayton will be strutting in after a victory while Willow Spring will be coming in after a loss.
Last Friday, Clayton earned a 10-5 win over South Granville. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Comets.
Jennings Dunlap was a major factor no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Those zero hits allowed gave him a new career-low. He was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 1-for-1.
In other pitching news, Jackson Clinard looked comfortable as he pitched two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances.
Jamison Lynch
| 02/26/25 @ Rosewood | 3 |
| 03/07/25 vs South Granville | 2 |
| 03/06/25 @ Southern School of Energy and Sustainability | 2 |
| 03/04/25 @ West Johnston | 1 |
| 02/28/25 @ Southern Lee | 1 |
Back at the plate, Jamison Lynch and Cam Bryant did most of the damage at the plate: Lynch scored two runs and stole a base while going 2-for-4, while Bryant scored a run and stole a base while going 2-for-3. Lynch is becoming a predictor of Clayton's success: when he posts at least two runs the team is undefeated (and 0-3 when he doesn't). The team also got some help courtesy of Grant Buchanan, who went 1-for-4 with one triple and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Willow Spring was not able to break out of their rough patch on Monday as the team picked up their third straight defeat. They lost 12-1 to Cardinal Gibbons.
Willow Spring also got a good showing from Chadburn Turner, who tossed 1.2 innings while giving up no earned runs or hits.
At the plate, Willow Spring saw two different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Bryce Marsh, who went 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI.
Willow Spring's loss dropped their record down to 0-3. As for Clayton, the victory got them back to even at 3-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Tuesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Clayton has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Willow Spring struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.3 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Clayton came out on top in a nail-biter against Willow Spring in their previous matchup back in March of 2024, sneaking past 7-5. Will Clayton repeat their success, or does Willow Spring have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
