This past week saw the A’s go 4-3 starting with a home win over the Topeka Golden Giants Monday, July 9. Clarinda’s pitching staff combined to hold the Giants to only four hits  and no runs for the 3-0 MINK League victory. Keith Hustedt led off the first inning with a singled, with Brandon Mikkelson following with one. They both scored on a one out single by Jimmy Mittleberger.  In the sixth inning Leo Garcia was hit by a pitch moved to second on a sacrifice  by Matt VanOrden and scored the A’s third run on a double by Hustedt.

Tuesday, July 10 the team traveled to Kearney, Mo to meet the FCA Grays and dropped a 1-0 contest. Grays pitching held the A’s to just four hits and while starting pitcher Grant Campbell gave up just one run in the six inning he threw, Clarinda was unable to put anything together.

Chris Court and Keith Spreckles combined for a 5-0 shutout against Omaha Diamond Spirit Wednesday, July11 at home. Hustedt led the hitting for the A’s going 2-3, with Adam Shupe being 2-4. 

Traveling to Beatrice Thursay, the A’s dropped a heartbreaker 4-3. The Bruins had gone ahead in the third inning by three runs, to see the A’s come back in the seventh with three of their own. Brandon Hayes reached on and error, advanced on a single by David Bachofner with both of them scoring on a triple by Jimmy Mittleberger, who scored on a single by Brian Taylor. Beatrice’s Correston hit a homer in the bottom of the eighth and Clarinda was unable to answer in their half of the final inning.

On the road again Friday, Clarinda took a 2-1 victory over Topeka Golden Giants. The Giants scored their single run in the fourth inning, with the A’s putting up their two runs in the sixth. Bachofner led off the inning with a single, followed by a walk to Brooks Kimmey. A single by Taylor scored Bachofner and Kimmey came in on a single by Andrew Kainer. Andrew Cashner, Sammy Miller, Brad Williams and Frank Zenisek combined for the win.   

Back home again Saturday, the A’s picked up a 6-4 MINK League win over the FCA Grays. Clarinda scored in the first as John Fugazi led off with a single, stole second and scored on a double by Bachofner. Taylor got a lead off double in the second and scored on a double by Furquan Shamsud-din. Taylor led off in the fourth with a single, went to second on an error and scored on Shamsud-din’s second double. He then scored on a single by Jimmy Swift. Brock Spangenberg got two RBI in the fifth as Mittleberger who walked and Andrew Kainer who was hit by a pitch scored on his two out single. Jason Gurka got the win for the A’s, with Kevin Dwyer, David Goodenough and Frank Zenisek working in relief.

Omaha Diamond Spirit were back in town Sunday and posted a 7-1 victory over the A’s. Clarinda scored their lone run in the eighth inning when Kevin Mills singled and scored on a Taylor double. Omaha scored single runs in the second and fourth innings, adding three in the fifth and one in the sixth and ninth innings.

Monday was a rain date with no game scheduled and Chillicothe Mudcats came to town on Tuesday, July 17. Junction City, KS will be in Clarinda for a two game stand this Wednesday and Thursday, July 19 which will be the A’s final regular season home game. The A’s will travel to Chillicothe Friday for their final MINK League contest. Going into this week their overall record was 36-14 and they are 17-11 in league play.