Fliers leave yard 3 times to sweep Bellevue series

BELLEVUE — Clyde's softball team hadn't swept Bellevue in a single regular season since 2008. The Fliers ended the drought in style. Taitum Jeffrey, Kennedi Long and Ella Howey all crushed home runs to power Clyde past its Route 20 rival in a 9-3 victory on Wednesday. "It's a great feeling," Long said. "It's such a big battle between Clyde and Bellevue. It feels amazing to be able to beat them twice in one year." The Fliers also maintained their slight chances in the SBC Lake Division, improving to 4-2 (11-6 overall) heading into Friday's home matchup with Norwalk (6-0 Lake). "We did not play well the first time we played them, and Norwalk is a good team, they're playing well," Clyde coach Marc Marshall said. Clyde didn't waste any time ensuring that its home win earlier this season over the Lady Red would be matched on the road. The first pitch of the game hit Karissa Smith, and three pitches later the freshman Jeffrey launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. "Once (Smith) got to second on a passed ball, I knew I had to get at least a single to get her in," Jeffrey said. "... It felt good going off the bat. That's one of the best feelings ever." After a popout, Long stepped in and drilled the second pitch she saw beyond the center-field fence for a 3-0 lead. It had taken just seven pitches for Clyde to take total control. "That was a great start, especially against Bellevue," Long said. "... I just really collided with it perfect. It just felt great." Two walks later in the first set up Mya Stiefel for an RBI single and a 4-0 lead to start the rivalry game. "That definitely helped settle the nerves a little bit, and it puts them behind the eight ball, too," Marshall said. That allowed Jeffrey to take the circle with confidence, and she struck out four in a complete-game victory. "It helped me going out there," Jeffrey said of the run support. "... I felt good. Sometimes it's hard to come out in the cold weather, but we get it done." Long drove in another run in the second, pulling a single over the third base bag to score Smith, who had doubled. Then in the fourth, Clyde put any lingering suspense away. Smith reached on a single, which Jeffrey followed with an infield hit. After two popouts, Howey made sure those runners didn't go to waste. Having already homered three times this season, this one was a bit different — the right-handed batter lasered a liner over the right-center fence to bring home all three runs. "It felt different, for sure," Howey said. "Honestly, it felt great. It was a solid swing, good contact, kept my hands back." Clyde added its final run in the sixth when Howey doubled home Maddie Dukeshire (walk). "Last year, I struggled with (confidence) a little bit," Howey said. "This year, it's definitely a lot higher." Bellevue (6-8, 3-4) had scored one run in the first when Payton Hicks singled home Gwen Strause (single). Hicks also had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning, and MyahAnn Reesman singled in a run in the sixth. The Fliers will practice Thursday before welcoming the Truckers to the turf at Joe Wilson Field on Friday. Norwalk can clinch a share of the league that night, or Clyde can at minimum add some suspense to the week ahead. "We're gonna have to come with energy and try to make it the best game we can," Marshall said. Clyde 410 301 0 — 9 10 0Bellevue 100 001 1 — 3 8 0WP: Jeffrey. LP: Holzhauer 2B: (C) West, Smith, Howey. HR: (C) Jeffrey, Long, Howey.