By MONTE DUTTON

At its best, high-school baseball is tense, exciting and unlimited by a run rule.

Clinton (9-2, 3-1 Region 3-2A) guarded a one-run lead with the tenacity of an animal defending its young on Friday night, gaining a split with rival Mid-Carolina, 2-1, on the Red Devils’ home diamond. The 7-5 victory by the Rebels on Tuesday left Clinton with its backs against the wall.

It was “must win.” The Red Devils found a way.

“You can’t afford to fall two games behind in a region,” said CHS head coach Peyton Spangler. A “It was a clutch game. We had to have it.

“We did it the Clinton way. We found a way to grind and found a way to win a tight game, which you’ve got to be able to do.”

The Finley brothers, Tanner and Camden, teamed up on the mound to limit Mid-Carolina (7-6, 3-1) to four hits and a lone fifth-inning run. Tanner started and earned the decision, allowing a run, four hits, three walks and striking out seven.

Camden took the mound from center field with a run in, two out and a runner on third. He struck out Davis Ruff to end the threat. In 2-1/3 innings, he picked up a save by allowing only a walk and fanning three.

The Finleys also collected two of the Red Devils’ three hits. Clinton scored both its runs in the first inning on Jaydon Glenn’s double and William Addison’s sacrifice fly.

Sloopy never hung on like the Red Devils the rest of the way.

Jaycob Odom took the loss in spite of a brave 5-1/3-inning stint. He settled down after the two-run first, finishing with two walks and three strikeouts, before lefty Luke Milling pitched the final 2/3 of an inning.

Jaydon Glenn doubled, stole a base and was hit by a pitch for the Red Devils.

The only player with two hits was Mid-Carolina right fielder Landon Wicker, who singled and doubled in three at-bats.

“In high-school baseball, you have what you have, and we have good enough players to get it done,” Spangler said. “I’m really proud of the Finley brothers.

“Tanner showed unbelievable toughness. He didn’t necessarily have his best stuff early, and in Tanner fashion, he kept getting better, kept grinding. Then Camden came in in a really tough situation, and he was unbelievable, too.”

Chester (5-7-1, 2-0), coming off consecutive one-run victories over Fairfield Central, visits Clinton on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and hosts the Red Devils on Friday.

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