July did not start well for the A’s as they lost to the Carroll Classics there Monday July 2 by a score of  5-1. Six infield hits by the Classics led to three runs to put them up early and the A’s were able to score their lone run when Jimmy Swift was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on an error, to third on a fielder’s choice and came home on a sac fly by Brandon Hayes.

Fireworks on the 3rd were preceded by a MINK League loss to the league leading Beatrice Bruin 6-3.  Clarinda gave up four runs in the second inning and came back with three in  the third, but were unable to score again. David Bachofner went 2-2 on the evening and Brian Taylor was 2-3 for the A’s.

On the 4th of July the A’s bats came alive as they downed Omaha Diamond Spirit 11-5.  Todd Vogel was the winning pitcher for Clarinda and Bachofner was again 2-2 with Jimmy Swift going 3-5 and Leo Garcia and Brandon Mikkelson each 2-4.

Clarinda traveled to Blair, NE July 5 and came home with a 9-5 win. Trailing 3-0 in the third, they came back to tie it in the fifth inning, but saw Blair score two in their half to go ahead again. The A’s tied it at 5 in the sixth and went ahead in the seven with their final four runs. Sammy Miller was the starting pitcher, with Keith Spreckels coming on in relief to get the win. Taylor had a home run and Kevin Mills and Hayes were each 2-4 on the night.

Chilllicothe came to town on the 6th for a MINK League contest which found the A’s  losing a heartbreaker in 13 innings. A controversial call at home plate in the seventh would have sealed a win for the A’s, but Swift was called out as he slid in.  Jimmy Mittleberger was 3-6 in the game.

Baseball Day Saturday, July 7 saw Diamond Spirit in town again and the A’s were able to get an 8-0 win. Clarinda scored a single run in the third inning and broke it open in the fourth when they  put up six runs in the fourth. Brooks Kimmey was 3-5, with Hayes having a 2-3 night and Grant Grgurich being 2-4.

Sunday the A’s hosted Nebraska Sport and the Sioux City Saints who replaced Carroll on the schedule when the Classics backed out of their scheduled game here. In the first game the A’s were just too much for the Nebraska team as they scored eight runs in each of the first two innings and saw Scott Chew hold the visitors to only two hits in the shortened five inning contest. John Fugazi and Furquan Shamsud-din each had homeruns for the A’s, while Kevin Mills went 2-2 and Brock Spangenberg was 2-3.

In the second game Clarinda was able to hold the scoreless till the 5th inning when they scored their only run to pull them to a 5-1 score. In the sixth inning the A’s were able to put six runs on the board with Bachofner’s homer the big blow. Hayes and Grgurich were both 2-3 and Keith Hustedt went 3-4 on the night. Andrew Cashner struck out nine in the four innings he pitched and Sheldon LeChuga got three more in the three innings of relief he threw.

Monday, July 9 the A’s hosted the Topeka Golden Giants and traveled to Kearney, MO for a game with the FCA Grays before returning home this Wednesday to meet Omaha Diamond Spirit. They will travel to Beatrice Thursday and Topeka Friday before returning home for games with FCA the 14th and Diamond Spirit the 15th. The final home stand for the A’s before the NBC Regional Tournament will be Tuesday, July 17 when Chillicothe Mudcats come to town and Junction City, KS will be here for a two game series the 18th and 19.

Overall the A’s record stands at 32-11 and 14-9 in MINK League play. With seven league contests left, they are probably not in the running for the title, as Beatrice was leading with only five losses as of July 8. In order to advance to the NBC World Series in Wichita the A’s will have to win the regional tournament which will start here July 23. Details and brackets will be in the next issue of the Herald Journal.