Published: May 15, 2008 10:38 am         

Clear Spring downs Allegany, 16-5

CLEAR SPRING - Second-seeded Clear Spring put on a slugging display before the game and then during the game when it counted, clouting four home runs to defeat seventh-seeded Allegany in six innings in the Class 1A West Region quarterfinals.

Clear Spring pounded out 15 hits against the Campers, with Jordan Thurber ending up with a double, two singles and two runs batted in. Aaron Mills hit a two-run homer in the second, Kyle Crist hit a two-run homer in the fourth, and Joel Rowe hit a two-run homer in the sixth. Brett Turner hit a solo home run.

"They're the best hitting team I've seen in eight years," said Allegany head coach Duane McMinn. "They're bringing bench guys off and they're hitting the ball out. They hit 28 balls out in batting practice, and that's not an exaggeration. This team will be tough to beat offensively."

Sean Collette hit a three-run home run in the third inning to get the Campers to within 5-4, and also had two singles. Brennan Connelley singled twice for Alco, while Cody Ellsworth and John Carpenter doubled. Brandon Folk singled in a run in the second.

Clear Spring (16-3) will play Boonsboro today in one West semifinal.

Allegany finished the season 11-7, winning the City championship with a 4-0 record.

"I thought our improvement over last year was good improvement," said McMinn. "We won six last year; we won 11 this year. We only had three seniors, so the juniors on the team this year will be asked, and expected, to step up and improve."