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McDonough’s one-hitter lifts Clippers in their opener

Columbiana second baseman Alyssa Tohm fields a grounder against Jackson-Milton on Wednesday. (Salem News/Chris Rambo)

COLUMBIANA — The Columbiana softball team couldn’t have scripted a better start to the season.

Facing Division I recruit Sierra Pierce and a strong Jackson-Milton team, the Clippers were clicking on all cylinders right out of the gate in an 8-0 victory Wednesday at Firestone Park.

“I was pleased with everything tonight,” Columbiana coach Jerry Beltempo said. “We did OK in our scrimmages, but we’re pretty inexperienced compared to some past Columbiana teams. I didn’t know how they’d be able to handle their nerves, and for us to come out here and beat them like that is very encouraging.”

The Clippers–who are breaking in four new starters–were powered by their returning ace Marisa McDonough, who more than outdueled Pierce by holding the Bluejays to just one hit over seven innings to go with seven strikeouts and no walks.

“I just wanted to throw strikes and keep getting ahead of hitters,” McDonough said. “In the offseason, I worked on developing my changeup, and I thought I threw it pretty well tonight.”

McDonough set the tone in the first at-bat of the game when she struck out Pierce, who had a streak of seven straight games with a home run late last season. The only damage Pierce was able to inflict Wednesday came in the form of a harmless leadoff single in the fourth to account for Jackson-Milton’s only hit.

“I wanted to throw it high and keep it off the plate against her tonight,” McDonough said. “I was pretty happy with how I executed.”

“She threw a great game,” Beltempo said. “When you don’t walk people and get the leadoff hitter out its always going to be easier.”

At the plate, the Clippers got to Pierce for two runs in the second inning and two in the third to grab control.

McDonough finished 3-for-3 and got things started with a leadoff double in the second. Morgan Highley followed with an RBI single and moved into scoring position on a fielding error. She came home on an RBI groundout by Gillian Stilson. In the third. Highley made it 3-0 when she ripped another RBI single to left.

The Clippers broke it wide open with four runs in the sixth thanks to singles by Stilson and Taylor Ross, a throwing error by Pierce and an RBI double by Alexis Cross.

“We knew she was going to go outside and high, and we wanted to leave the high ones go and take the ball to the opposite field,” Beltempo said.

Seven of the nine Columbiana hitters had at least one hit.

“I was really happy with how everyone hit throughout the lineup,” Beltempo said. “After the first few batters, we weren’t getting cheated up there, which was a surprise to me.”

Game notes

• Out of the 22 batters McDonough faced, only three got the ball beyond the infield.

• Pierce, who is a senior, committed to the University of Maryland Baltimore County in November. This is her first full season with the Bluejays after transferring from Austintown Fitch last year.

• Columbiana is back in action today at home against Western Reserve.

JM: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0–0-1-3

CO: 0-2-2-0-0-4-x–8-12-0

JM–Sierra Pierce, lp, (6IP, 5K, 1BB) and Katie Rago.

CO–Marisa McDonough, wp, (7IP, 7K, 0BB) and Alexis Cross.

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