Clapper shows she is back to 100% in district semifinal win over Shelby
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WILLARD — Way back on March 28 when the Madison Rams hosted the Shelby Whippets in a frigid doubleheader, Madison coach Tim Niswander believed his sophomore All-Ohio pitcher Caliyah Clapper was at about 60% after offseason hip surgery.
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Clapper believes she was about 70%.
On Thursday, May 21, she was 100% and showed it in a big way during a 5-1 Division III district semifinal rematch against the Whippets. Clapper collected three hits and two RBIs with a home runs while tossing a complete game in the circle allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts.
Maybe she is more like 110%.
“100%,” Clapper said. “I was struggling with my hip and it took a mental toll on me, but I looked at it as I wasn’t even supposed to be able to play this season and here I am. I am grateful I can step out on the field.”
It was a night and day difference than that early-season twin billing that Shelby swept 8-6 and 13-0.
“The first time we played them, it was the third game of the year and we were hurt,” Niswander said. “We didn’t play well and we still went into extra innings. We knew we were right there and could develop a good plan on the mound.”
The Rams jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first and proceeded to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the home half of the inning which set the table for a 3-run second inning and another run in the third for a 4-0 lead after just two and a half innings. The early cushion was just what Clapper needed.
“I think it would help any pitcher feel like you don’t have to be perfect,” Niswander said. “You can just cut it loose and is you miss or give up a hit, it’s not a big deal. They had a chance to score and match us in the first inning, but when we shut it down, it was huge for us. That put our kids at ease.”
Shelby coach Samantha Martin felt like those first three innings were the tone setters for the rest of the game.
“I felt like whoever jumped out first would have the advantage in a game like this because we both have such great teams,” Martin said. “Momentum is hard to get against a good team. They set the tone and we couldn’t quite catch up. It hurt that we left the bases loaded in the first, but I was proud of the at-bats they had because they were putting the ball in play and fouled off good pitches when in the past, we usually struck out and didn’t give ourselves a chance.”
The Rams committed just one error on defense and made play after play in the outfield to preserve the victory.
“Our infield did a great job of talking to them when the ball was in the air,” Niswander said. “People don’t realize just how important that is at key times in the game.”
Leading 3-0 in the top of the third, the Rams got something from Clapper they were used to getting last year, but hadn’t seen yet in 2026. She smashed her first home run of her sophomore season deep over the centerfield fence to give herself an even bigger cushion.
“My dad yelled at me before I went to the plate because my hit before was bad,” Clapper said. “He told me to get my hips through and when I got my pitch, I got them through and I took it over.”
Still, Shelby threatened in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on and two outs with the always dangerous Braylee Sturts coming to the plate. Niswander made a mound visit and suggested the Rams intentionally walk Sturts to put the tying run at the plate and avoid pitching to her.
Clapper had other plans. She told Niswander no and convinced him to let her pitch to Sturts who popped out to second to end the game.
“And she got her,” Niswander said. “There is nothing I could do when a kid is that confident. I am going to trust that ever time and she was amazing tonight and our defense played very well behind her. Just a great team win.”
Izzy Wamsley helped the Rams with a hit and two RBIs while Allie Shrader had two hits.
Natalie Kennard led Shelby with three hist while Kendall Bowman had two. Bowman had the lone RBI.
Shelby (22-7) says goodbye to seniors Elise Mullins, Natalie Kennard, Jadyn Bowman, Ruthie Faith, Maddie Crose and Katie Taylor, who played their final game for the Whippets.
“This is such a fun group that is dedicated to the game and each other,” Martin said. “It is so hard to see the season end because you just want them all to come back to practice tomorrow. The seniors have been amazing who have developed into players who helped us win 22 games.”
The Rams (13-14) will take on Celina at 11 a.m. on May 23 back at Willard for a Division III district championship as they look to make it back to the regional tournament for the second straight season.
“We have been talking all year that this is where we want to be,” Niswander said. “I told the girls on the bus that I believed the best team in the district came over on the bus with me and I challenged them to prove it. And that is what they did.”
Niswander challenged them by bringing out the lineup card from last year’s regional championship game against Holland Springfield, a game the Rams lost on a walk off grand slam. He told them that era is over and handed his players the card. They proceeded to rip it to shreds and throw it in the trash.
“We were struggling at the beginning of the season because we wouldn’t let go of last season,” Clapper said. “We went into this game believing that nothing else matters. Our record doesn’t matter and last year is over. Our season starts now and it doesn’t end until we get to Akron.”
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Rams beat Shelby Whippets in Division III district semifinal softball