Lady Cats Sweep Lady Bears In Softball Doubleheader (05/15/14)
There’s a saying in sports: “Winning breads winning.” Well that could well describe the Clarion Area Softball Team lately. The Lady Cats were 0-12, heading into this week, but are now 3-12. After their first win of the season against Venango Catholic, on Monday, the Lady Cats swept the Lady Bears of East Forest, in a doubleheader at Marienville, on Wednesday.
The Bobcats downed the Bears 13-2 in the first game and then won 18-7, in the nightcap. Both games were 5 inning affairs.
Johnna Rapp went the distance, in the circle, in both games, which included a 2-hitter in the game-one. Game-two was a 5-hitter. Rapp threw a combined eleven strikeouts, in picking up the victories.
East Forest was the “visiting” team in the first game. They scored both of their runs in the top of the first inning. Clarion answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. The Lady Cats tacked on seven more runs in the bottom of the second, two runs in the third and finished by scoring three runs in the fifth to end the game.
For the Lady Cats: Caitlyn Hill had 2 triples, an RBI and three runs scored. Keanna Over had two hits, including a double, an RBI. She also scored three runs. Aliya Reed also had a double among her three hits. She scored 2 runs and drove in a run.
Brittany Strotman collected a pair of hits, while driving in a run and scoring once. Rapp had a single and scored twice. Shamecka Dittman and Brooke Bowser each scored once and Olivia Bartley had three RBIs.
Sarah Schettler and Hali Songer had East Forest’s hits.
Clarion was the visiting team for game-two. East Forest opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first. The Lady Cats scored seven runs in the top of the second and the Bears answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, making the score 7-5 in Clarion’s favor.
Scoring one run in the third and four more runs in the fourth, the Bobcats moved their lead 12-5. Clarion scored six more in the top of the fifth inning, but East Forest could only counter with two runs in their half of the fifth and the game ended at that point, giving Clarion the 18-7 win.
Cora Zerfoss had a homerun and a single for the Lady Cats. She also scored twice. Over had two singles and a double, while scoring twice and driving in three runs. Rapp had a pair of hits, driving in a run. She also scored twice.
Bartley collected a hit and 3 RBIs, in addition to scoring three runs. Hill hit a double and scored twice. Reed and Dittman each had singles. Reed drove in three runs and scored once and Dittman had an RBI. Strotman had 2 RBIs and scored twice. Bowser crossed the plate twice and Lexa McGill scored once.
Lacy King had a double and a triple, driving in 4 runs for the Bears. Schettler, Kaellie Leelan and Cheyenne Carbaugh each had singles.
Lady Cat Head Coach, Dan Shofestall was particularly impressed with one particular play during the afternoon, “Our defense did turn a triple play in the bottom of the second in the first game. With the bases loaded we got a 1 unassisted to 3 to 6 DP. It was a line drive to the pitcher who threw to first who threw to second for the triple play. Rapp to Reed to Over.”
Clarion’s final game against West Forest, scheduled for Thursday, was canceled. So the Lady Cats ended the season with three straight wins. This high note gives this young team something very good to build upon next season.
In the e-mail to staff and various media, informing of the West Forest game cancelation, Clarion Area Athletic Director, Larry Wiser added this comment, “I want to congratulate the team, coaching staff, & and especially Coach Shofestall for great effort this season. As I have stated many times I am as proud of this group as any other team that has graced the softball field these past few years.”