The Bucks claimed the sixth consecutive game Thursday, rolling past Elkton, 12-5, at Buck Bowman Park.
The win moved Clover Hill to 6-2 and tied the Bucks with Stuarts Draft for first place in the RCBL standings. the squad next faces Montezuma (4-2) Saturday at Montezuma Ruritan Park.
On Thursday, the runs came early and often. After CH starter James Lucas worked a perfect top of the first, the Bucks gave him a lead in the bottom of the frame.
With two outs, Addison Bowman reached on an infield single back to the mound against Sox righty Justin Kuehle. Shane Banks followed with a hit and J.R. Rohrbough singled home Bowman with the game's first run. Dustin Bowman then smacked a two-run double off the base of the fence in left for a 3-0 CH advantage.
That lead was short-lived, however, as the Sox tied the game in the second. Blake Stokely led off with a double down the left field line. One out later, Lucas walked George Stephan and then allowed a bunt single to Steve Craun to load the bases. Brent Roadcap and Kevin Loker both walked to force home runs, before J.J. Loker singled to right, plating another run. CH right fielder threw out Roadcap at the plate for the second out on the play, and Lucas induced Erik Dvergsten to ground out to shortstop to keep the game tied.
The Bucks then took the lead for good in the bottom of the second. With one out, Chris Cofer walked, stole second and scored on a double to center from Addison Bowman.
Clover Hill then built on the lead in the third. Dustin Bowan led off with a single, Lucas reached on an error and Weaver walked to load the bases. Chris Cofer plated one run with a sacrifice fly, before Easter notched a RBI single to right. Run-scoring hits from Aaron Martin and Rohrbough pushed the advantage to 9-3.
Three unearned runs in the fourth moved the lead to 12-3, with Kuehle being relieved by Rob Dean to start the sixth.
Clover Hill lefty Logan Arey relieved Lucas in the top of the sixth and struck out the side. Arey retired the first six batters he faced, before Beau Banglesdorf led off the seventh with an infield single. Stokely followed by blasting a two-run shot to left to cut the lead to 12-5.
Dean, J.J. Loker and Craun held the Bucks scoreless over their final three at bats, but Arey worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to secure the victory.
Lucas (5 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 6 K, 4 BB) picked up the win to move to 1-0. Arey (4 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 8 K, 2 BB) earned his first save.
Dustin Bowman was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Rohrbough went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead the Bucks offensively. Addison Bowman was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI.
Kuehle (5 IP, 12 R, 6 ER, 10 H, 5 BB, 5 K) took the loss for Elkton. Stokely went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and two RBIs.
