Clark Electric Softball Team Concludes Outstanding Season (07/06/17)
(By Dick Clark)
PLAYOFF GAME
The Clark Electric girls rolled into the playoffs Monday June 26th, at Weaver Park with a meeting with Rimersburg VFW.
Abby Himes led off the bottom of the first by hitting the first pitch into the gap for a triple. She scored the first run on a wild pitch. The next four batters, Ava Cherico, Jordy Best, Brenna Campbell and Kylee Beers drew walks. Cherico and Best would score on wild pitches. Campbell would also try to score on a wild pitch, but was tagged out by Rimersburg catcher Morgan Cumberland. Cassidy Makray would then drive in Beers by grounding out to third. Brenna Copenhaver then hit a ball back to the pitcher Sierra Salvo but the throw was off line and Copenhaver made it to second on the play. Sarah Clark would then rip a single to the outfield sending Copenhaver home, but the throw home was on line and Copenhaver was tagged for the 3rd out to make it 4-0.
Starting Pitcher Kylee Beers retired the side in the second inning.
Ava Kiser would reach first base, to lead off the second on an error, take second base on an error then score on Rebecca Ketner’s groundout. Lauren Winters worked a full count before striking out. Abby Himes then singled and scored on a blooper to the outfield by Ava Cherico. Jordy Best then came up and hit her third inside the park home run of the season to make it 8-0.
Brenna Campbell then walked and Kylee Beers smacked a triple to make it 9-0.
Rimersburg’s Riley Culligan drew a walk to start the 3rd inning for the VFW, but Beers would then strike out the next 3 batters.
Copnehaver and Clark would both walk and Kiser would single just out of the infield to load the bases. Rebecca Ketner would ground out to second to score Copenhaver, to make it 10-0. Clark would try to score on a wild pitch, but was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.
Rimersburg ‘s Sierra Salvo would walk to start the fourth, but was thrown out leading off first by catcher Jordy Best’s perfect throw.
The game was then called because of darkness making the final Clarion 10, Rimersburg 0. This sent Clarion to the Championship game, against New Bethlehem on Wednesday, June 28th. Clarion’s record stood at 9-0, heading into the Championship game.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The Girls from Clark Electric (Clarion) and BRINC Building Products (New Bethlehem) met for the Clarion County Senior Softball Championship on Wednesday, June 28th, under the lights in Clarion.
With New Be batting first, Kylee Beers struck out the first 2 batters before Brynn Rearick doubled. Brooke Holben then doubled to score Rearick to make it 1-0. Beers then had Tanner Hetrick ground out to end the inning.
Clarion would respond in the second by drawing walks to Ava Cherico and Jordy Best. Brenna Campbell then ripped a double to score both. Starting pitcher for BRINC , Tanner Hetrick then retired the next 2 batters to make it 2-1 Clarion.
Beers struck out the first 2 batters before issuing a walk to Kia Sage. Beers then struck out the next batter to keep it 2-1 after 2 innings.
New Bethlehem would tie the score in the top of the 3rd, when Savanna Boyer slapped a triple into right field and scored on the overthrow to third. Beers then shut the door with 2 more strikeouts and a ground out.
Clarion would then go ahead with Ava Cherico hitting a single followed by an RBI single by Brenna Campbell. Cassidy Makray then singled in Campbell, to make it 4-2 after 3 innings.
New Bethlehem scored a run in the 4th, Tanner Hetrick would take first on a fielding error then score trying to steal third. The throw bounced away and Hetrick scored to make it 4-3 Clarion.
Clarion bounced right back in the bottom of the 4th inning by scoring 3 more runs. Rebecca Ketner reached first on catcher’s interference. Sarah Clark would strike out and Himes would ground out for the second out, but Cherico then singled in Ketner. Best then came up and hit a liner to 3rd but the throw was offline and Cherico scored. Campbell then blooped a hit beyond the infield to score Best. Campbell was then gunned down trying to steal second for the third out to make it 7-3 Clarion.
The New Bethlehem comeback started in the top of the 5th, when Elaina Miller doubled, Brynn Rearick walked and both scored on a infield error when Hetrick ripped a shot to short. Brenna Campbell made a nice play to knock the ball down but could not make the throw scoring Miller and Rearick. Karlee Wells then hit a triple to score Hetrick . Trinity Weckerly then hit a ball to the shortstop and Campbell made a diving play for the out, but Weckerly scored on the play to make it 7-7. Beers then registered astruck out to end the inning.
Clarion would load the bases in the bottom of the fifth, starting with Brenna Copenhaver being hit by a pitch, and Cassidy Makray getting on base with a single. Kylee beers would then hit a single to load the bases. But the rally died as Hetrick retired the next three batters to get out of the jam.
New Bethlehem would start off the top of the 6th with a walk, but Jordy Best picked off the runner leading off first. Best then threw out a runner trying to steal second later in the inning to end the threat.
Clarion could only manage a hit by Campbell in the bottom of the 6th keeping the score 7-7.
New Bethlehem led off the 7th with a single by Rearick. Brooke Holben then layed down a bunt but the throw was low and both runners were safe. A wild pitch scored Rearick from 3rd to make it 8-7 New Be. Tanner Hetrick then drew a walk before Karlee Wells hit a pop up between 1st and 2nd that fell between the Clarion infielders to score Holben . On Wells attempt to steal second, the throw was high and scored Hetrick and Wells to make the score 11-7, New Be.
Clarion would go down in order in the bottom of the 7th to make the final 11-7 and New Bethlehem take the County Senior Softball Title.
Of note most of the girls on the New Bethlehem team are heading to States in the All-Star 13-14 year old bracket after winning the district title. The Clarion Girls finish the season 9-1 after losing to one of the better teams In Western Pa. Overall the girls had a great season and enjoyed the thrill of coming close to the Championship.
Thanks to the Clarion Little League for their support. Thanks to Tami Winters (team Mom) for fundraising and Most of all THANKS to Matt Best and Chris Himes our fearless leaders and Coaches. They made it fun at practice or in game situtations while teaching the girls how to be better softball players. Good Luck to all the girls in future sofball!
(Thanks to Dick Clark for all the fine articles throughout the season. CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SEASON, CLARK ELECTRIC!!!!)