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Saturday, August 08, 2009 9:58 AM

Photo courtesy of Michele Dunlap


Ottawa's American Legion AA baseball team battled fog as well as its opponent in a late-night-early-morning game that went in the early hours of Saturday. Ottawa won the game 5-1 over Viroqua, Wisc., to stay alive the Midwest Regional tournament in Milbank, S.D.

Clayton hurls Ottawa to victory

Ottawa stays alive in tourney

By Greg Mast/Herald Sports Editor

Box score and stats

MILBANK, -- Curtis Clayton went to the mound with a purpose late Friday night and early Saturday morning in the Midwest AA Regional in Milbank, S.D

The Ottawa Amerian Legion pitcher put together a gutsy performance in sparking Ottawa to a 5-1 victory over Viroqua, Wis., in an elimination game.

Because of the rain Friday, the final game of the day was pushed back to a nearly 11:30 p.m. start and finished at 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

It did not matter which day or time, Clayton went right at the Wisconsin hitters. He tossed a six-hitter in going the distance. He finished with eight strikeouts.

Ottawa 45-1 plays 7 p.m. today against the winner.

"We have to win the rest of our games or go home," Clayton said. "We want to win this tournament."

Clayton, who pitched an inning in the 5-2 loss earlier against LaMoure, finished with nearly 130 pitches in those two appearances.

"Curtis was a warrior," Ottawa coach Shawn Herrmann said. "He wanted to keep going."

Clayton (10-0) had just two base runners through 4 2/3 innings. The first base runner was picked off and the second was erased by a slick double play started by third baseman Blake Firestone.

By the time the game started, there was a hint of a fog over the field. It progressively got thicker and became tougher to locate the ball.

"It was hard to see the ball," Clayton said.

Ottawa displayed some of its power game with two two-run home runs. Corbin Goedert nailed a two-run shot in the first inning to give Ottawa a 2-0 lead.

Chase Dengel's home run went over the 288-foot right field fence in the fifth to give Ottawa a 5-0 lead.

"We hit the ball a lot better," Clayton said Ottawa had nine hits. "A lot of people made solid contact. Pitching with the lead is a lot different than from behind."

Herrmann said it was good to see the Ottawa bats return to form and get on top early.

"We need to make sure we keep hitting the ball hard," Herrmann said.

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