GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The afternoon district game between the Clay Blue Devils and the visiting Menendez Falcons got off to a wild start when the winds in excess of 20 miles per hour would help Menendez score a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. Clay pulled out all the stops and said enough. The Blue Devil defense held the Falcons to those two scores for the next six innings as they went onto beat the Falcons 10-2. Clay played their second game against Menenedez on Thursday and won 18-0.

Clay has a two-game series with defending district 4-6A champion Ridgeview set for Wed., April 12 and Thurs., April 13.

After the home run, Clay looked like they were poised to strike right back, but left two men on base coming into the second inning. Menendez went three up, three out with Clay pitcher Conner Solomon getting his first of eight strikeouts on the night, one walk, and going five innings.

When the Clay fielders made a major miscue with three fielders going for the ball, Clay Head Coach Josh Persinger huddled his team before Clay went to bat.

“I know what makes them tick and who to yell at,” said Persinger. “I know how to get inside (their head) and let them know we’re serious and just get them back in focus.”

The counseling session had a positive effect as the Clay bats came to life. Tyler Spence led off with a shot down the first base line for a stand-up double. Austin Burke followed him with a bunt which was picked up by the pitcher. The bunt moved Spence to second and Menendez should have had an easy out. The ball was wildly overthrown and Spence took off for home as Burke logged a standup triple off a bunt! When the Falcons reset, a wild pitch scored Burke.

In the fifth inning, Connor Solomon and Austin Burke would both get drove home to bring the score to 8-2. Clay never let off in the bottom of the sixth inning as Cole Escher took full advantage of a very fast Falcon side-arm pitcher. Escher took the first pitch all the way to the right field fence, made his way to second, stole third base and watched the Falcons miscue once again when they tried to pickoff Jacob Owens at first base. Escher took off for home for score number nine.

Persinger wrapped up the game.

“It’s our third district game. We started out kind of slow; slow pitcher, lots of wind, pop-flies, that’s kind of been our M.O. the whole time. Conner (Pitcher Connor Solomon), probably our number one, didn’t have his best stuff, but settled in. We got better as the game went on. Good teams find a way. It was a weird day, the rain (yesterday), the game was at a different time, the wind.”