No. 2 Suits Clark to a T

Pitcher Sean Clark of Chaminade High is friends with several Crespi players who tease him by wearing their Mission League championship T-shirts when he visits their homes.

Clark made his friends take notice Tuesday night with a powerful pitching performance in Chaminade’s 12-2 victory over Crespi in a game halted after five innings because of the 10-run rule at Birmingham.

Clark allowed three hits and helped deliver a convincing message that Crespi’s days as the three-time defending Mission League champions might be ending.

“I tried to show them they’re not the best team in town anymore,” Clark said.

Chaminade (7-2, 4-0 in league play) moved two games ahead of Crespi (6-4, 3-2) in the loss column and could inflict a decisive blow if it defeats the Celts again on Friday.

An eight-run second inning was all Clark needed to cruise through the Celts’ lineup. It was an uncharacteristic sloppy effort by a Crespi team known for playing well in big games.

But this Celt team is lacking an ace pitcher the caliber of Tim Leveque, Michael Jackson, Clint Kofmehl or Marshall Plouffe, who keyed Crespi’s last three league title clubs.

Chaminade, however, has found its No. 2 pitcher to support ace Bobby Paschal with Clark, a lanky 6-foot-2 junior who throws strikes and keeps batters off balance with an effective curveball. He shut out Notre Dame last week and allowed one earned run against Crespi.

“This was the bringing out Sean Clark party,” Coach Scott Drootin said. “He’s pitched two great games in a row. He’s going to be one of the great ones coming out of the Valley before he graduates.”

It was critical for Clark to emerge as a dependable No. 2 pitcher. The absence of a consistent No. 2 hurt the Eagles last season.

“It’s a must,” Drootin said. “He has to come through.”

Clark’s strong outings add motivation to Paschal, who isn’t pitching badly with a 4-0 record and no earned runs in 26 innings.

“It’s good to have a one-two punch,” Paschal said. “I have no worries when [Sean] is out there.”

Crespi had little chance of making the game close after a second-inning collapse that featured four infield singles, five stolen bases and four errors. Three consecutive batters reached base on bunts.

“That was one of those nights where just about everything went wrong,” Celt Coach Scott Muckey said. “We’re scratching our heads and we’ll keep plugging along.”

Paschal had three of Chaminade’s 12 hits. Shortstop Andrew Yaffe reached base for the 11th consecutive time. Cody Haerther and D.J. Milonas each had two hits.

Muckey’s dilemma is whether he can come up with enough quality pitching for the rest of the season. Freshman Trevor Plouffe is expected to get the start Friday against Paschal, but Celt pitchers have given up 31 runs in their last three games.

As for Clark, one of his Crespi friends was overheard saying afterward, “Sean got us back.”

With a few more victories, Clark will be able to start wearing a Mission League championship T-shirt around his house.