CEDAR RAPIDS — A resurgent Jon Hesketh struck out a season-high nine batters over five scoreless innings Tuesday night as the Clinton LumberKings opened a seven-game road trip with a 5-0 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field. Hesketh (2-1) won his second consecutive start, scattering three hits over his five innings. Since giving up nine runs April 16 against Quad Cities to see his ERA rise to 17.18, the left-hander has allowed just one run over his past 10 innings to lower his ERA to 7.79. It was a big night for Clinton pitching. Three hurlers combined for 16 strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter in the shutout. The LumberKings backed him with a run in the fourth as Nick Franklin reached on a single to right and scored on a two-out double by Vinnie Catricala that landed just inside the right-field foul line. Clinton struck for three more runs against Kernels right-hander Orangel Arenas in the fifth as James Jones tripled and scored on Steven Baron’s single over the drawn-in infield and Franklin knocked home a pair with an infield single up the middle. Baron added a sacrifice fly to score Jones again in the ninth for insurance. After Hesketh’s exit, right-hander Chris Kirkland continued the Kernels’ frustrations. Kirkland struck out five and did not allow a baserunner over three innings. Closer Brandon Josselyn yielded a hit but struck out two in a non-save ninth, finishing off the first shutout win for the LumberKings this season. Daniel Carroll and Franklin each went 2-for-4 atop the Clinton order. Baron finished 1-for-3 with the two RBIs. The LumberKings (9-10) continue the series against the Kernels (8-11) at 6:35 tonight at Perfect Game Field. Right-hander Taylor Stanton (1-1 will make his fourth start of the season for Clinton. Box score/2B
Sports
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River Kings saving best for last
Even on nights when track meets were almost over and the Clinton River Kings had yet to win an event, there always was hope.
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Steamers can’t catch a break
A couple of defensive miscues cost Fulton big Monday, and a pair of questionable calls by umpires squelched late hopes for a rally.
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Clinton, Camanche roll at tennis team regionals
Neither Clinton nor Camanche lost a game Saturday as they opened the postseason in girls tennis. Neither team even needed to play doubles, clinching the victories with singles play.
- Kings, Queens get good news
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Camanche plays waiting game
Camanche junior Courtney Sowle knows she is going to the state track and field meet in Des Moines next week.
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Kings to stay together
Football teammates at Clinton High School, Dantrell Kelley and Kyle Winter will stay together as college players.
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Queens wear crown
Jenny Vens and Megan Goetzl have spent the past four years playing doubles together for the Clinton High School girls tennis team.
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Smith leads CHS to comeback win vs. Irish
Arin Smith played a part in two second-half goals to lead Clinton to a 2-1 come-from-behind boys soccer win over Prince of Peace on Monday at the Ashford Soccer Complex.
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Wenzel grabs MCC crown in triple jump
Clinton graduate Sarah Wenzel won the triple jump and placed second in the long jump over the weekend to help host Ashford place third at the women’s Midwest Collegiate Conference track and field meet.
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Perfect day vaults Clinton to 2nd in MAC boys tennis
Clinton players won all eight of their matches Friday, lifting the River Kings from fourth to second place at the Mississippi Athletic Conference boys tennis tournament.
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