CREVE COEUR • McCluer North junior reliever Brandon Clinton laid on the ground gritting his teeth, blocking out the pain because he refused to be pulled from the game. 

He laid on the ground in front of the mound as a stinging pain emanated through his leg after a line drive caught him in the back of the leg.

Clinton had started the inning and he was going to see the end of it.

"My coach trusts my word," Clinton said. "I'm not going to lie to him and I told him that I could stay out there and finish the inning. He trusts me and I trust myself."

Clinton got an inning-ending strikeout when Parkway North had two runners on and the tying run at the plate.

Getting out of the jam, the Stars pulled out a 15-10 victory against the Vikings in the regular-season finale for both teams before district tournaments begin.

"We've got our heads focused," Clinton said. "This was a big win that we needed and we're headed in the right direction for districts."

McCluer North (16-8, 6-2 Suburban XII) will play in the first round of the Class 5 District 6 tournament Saturday against Riverview Gardens at Hazelwood West. McCluer North won both regular-season meetings.

Parkway North (14-11, 8-2 Suburban XII) will play in the Class 5 District 5 semifinals Monday against either Parkway Central or Chaminade.

When McCluer North coach Michael Callahan approached his reliever on the ground, he wasn't surprised with the response he got.

"He told me immediately when I got out there that he was ok, it just hurts," Callahan said.

After starter Amexem Hamm was lifted in the fourth inning, Clinton pitched until handing the ball over to Desmond Woods.

While Parkway North stung Clinton for six hits and scored seven runs, the mindset Clinton had is what Callahan is looking for in the upcoming district tournament.

"Brandon has ice in his veins and doesn't get flustered," Callahan said. "In districts, if we have a lead, he's going to get the ball."

After Parkway North found itself in a 10-0 hole after three innings, Vikings coach Michael Reeder was pleased with how his team responded.

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