Lady Cats’ Play Best Softball Of Season, Going 3-1 Last Week (05/10/15)

(By Dan Shofestall, Clarion Area Manager)

The Clarion Bobcat Softball Team had a busy week as they as they had a 3-1 Record in the KSAC.
The week began on A Keystone on Monday May 4th, with a heartbreaking 7-6 walk off loss to Keystone followed by a rebound 6-3 win vs, AC Valley on Tuesday. Wednesday was a dramatic hard fought 5-4 walk off victory against the Forest Fires and Thursday saw the team play a nearly flawless game against Clarion-Limestone 12-2.

KEYSTONE RALLY NIPS CLARION 7-6
The Clarion Bobcats Softball team suffered a heartbreaking loss at Keystone with a 7-6 walk off loss. Clarion controlled the action early with leads of 5-0 and 6-2, but could not hold on as the Panthers would plate four runs in the sixth and the game winner in the bottom of the seventh.

The Bobcats came out of the gates quickly, scoring four runs in the top of the first. After one out Maya Thornton singled and moved second as Johnna Rapp was hit by a pitch. Cora Zerfoss then drove in the games first run with a single scoring Thornton. Sadie Rudesyle then hit a 1-0 pitch for a triple scoring both Rapp and and Zerfoss. Rudesyle scored on a dropped third strike as Sydney Kiser was safe at first base to give Clarion the 4-0 lead.

Clarion added to the lead in the second as Thornton reached by an error and advanced to second on Rapp’s base hit. Zerfoss then singled Thornton home.

Keystone scored their first run in the bottom of the second and a run in the fourth to cut the lead to 5-2. The Bobcats got one back in the fifth. Sadie Rudesyle singled to start the inning. Two outs later, Liz Saver’s clutch hit drove in Rudesyle for the 6-2 lead.

Keystone started their comeback in the bottom of the sixth as they scored four runs after two outs to tie the score and set the stage for the walk off win in the seventh to make the final 7-6.

Sadie Rudesyle pitched well in defeat and also recorded two hits, two runs scored and had two RBI’s. One of her hits was a triple. Zerfoss and Saver also had a pair of hits for the Bobcats.

CLARION SOFTBALL BEATS A-C VALLEY WITH 6-3 WIN
The Clarion Softball team was able to rebound from a tough loss the night before with a 6-3 win over A-C Valley. Alexis Constantino picked ump the win for the Bobcats allowing two earned runs, four hits while striking out four Falcon hitters through seven innings of work.

A-C Valley was the first to dent the scoreboard as they opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Clarion would enjoy a huge inning in the second. With one out Sydney Kiser would reach first base on an error. Aliya Reed hit into a Fielders choice. Kiser then scored as Liz Saver reached on an error. Constantino then grounded into a fielders choice advancing Saver to second. Keanna Over’s double brought home Saver. Maya Thornton kept the inning going by driving in Constantino with a base hit. Johnna Rapp then stepped to the plate and delivered with an RBI single scoring Thornton and staking Clarion to the 5-2 lead after two innings.

The score remained the same until the fifth inning, when the Falcons pushed across an unearned run.
The Bobcats were able to add an insurance run in the sixth after two outs as Over reached on an error. Thornton then ripped a triple to right field and Over raced around the bases to give Clarion the 6-3 lead.

Constantino and her defense did the rest, as they were able to shut down the Falcons in the seventh and secure the win. For Clarion: Thornton scored one run while driving in three with a triple and two singles. Zerfoss, Over, and Kiser all doubled for the Bobcats. Rapp and Saver each had an RBI. Also scoring runs for Clarion were Over with a pair while Kiser, Constantino and Saver also scoring single tallies.

Constantino was efficient in the circle throwing only 68 pitches with 40 of them being strikes.

BOBCATS WIN IN DRAMATIC FASHION WITH WALK OFF WIN
Sadie Rudesyle drove in Maya Thornton with the winning run, in the bottom of the seventh and helped the Clarion Bobcats to a 5-4 walk off win, against the Forest Fires. Thornton opened the seventh with a ringing double that rolled to the outfield fence. Johnna Rapp was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. One out later, Rudesyle hit a sharp single scoring Thornton and giving Clarion the dramatic win.

Rudesyle was also able to get it done in the circle on the way to the win. She allowed four runs over seven innings, striking out eight hitters while walking two and surrendering only three hits.

The game wasn’t an easy one for the Lady Cats though, as the Fires were hot early jumping to a 4-0 lead in the first.
Clarion got a run back in the bottom of the first as Keanna Over singled and stole second base. After two outs Cora Zerfoss singled home Over to cut the lead to 4-1.

The Bobcats had a big inning in he third, as they were able to tie the game up. A pair of walks to Over and Johnna Rapp followed by a Zerfoss RBI single got the Clarion offense going. Rudesyle, Aliya Reed and Liz Saver followed with walks and Clarion took advantage of some miscues by the Forest defense scoring another pair of runs.

That 4-4 score would hold up until the bottom of the seventh and the exciting walk off win for Clarion. Rudesyle pitched well in the win, shutting down the Forest offense, the final six innings of the game. Of the 96 pitches she threw, 64 were strikes.

For the Clarion offense, Zerfoss had two hits while Over, Thornton, Rudesyle and Aliya Reed also chipped in with a hit apiece. Zerfoss, Rudesyle and Saver had the RBI’s, with Over scoring twice. Thornton, Rapp and Zerfoss scored the other runs for Clarion.

EARLY LEAD PROPELS CLARION TO 12-2 WIN OVER CLARION-LIMESTONE
The Clarion softball team finished a busy week by beating the Clarion-Limestone Lions 12-2. Eight runs, in the first three innings, allowed Clarion to put the game away early. They were able to add a single run in each of the final four innings to build the lead through out the game.

The Bobcats relied on pitcher Alexis Constantino and a strong defense en route to the win. Constantino allowed two earned runs, allowed eight hits and one walk, while striking out five in seven innings of work. Her defense played very well in support of her.

The Bobcats offense started well as Leann Over led off the game with a hit followed by Maya Thornton reaching on a base on balls. Johnna Rapp stepped to the plate and singled home Over for the game’s first run. Cora Zerfoss singled home Thornton, followed by a walk to Sadie Rudesyle. Sydney Kiser singled to load the bases. Zerfoss then scored on a wild pitch. Aliya Reed was then hit by a pitch. Liz Saver hit into a fielder’s choice erasing Rudesyle at home. Over then singled, for her second hit of the inning, driving home Kiser. Reed was then thrown out at the plate, on a bang bang play to end the inning.

The second inning saw Clarion add another run, as Thornton scored on a Zerfoss Sacrifice fly.

The third inning saw Kiser draw a lead off walk. Reed singled to advance Kiser to third. Two outs later, Over drilled a double to center field chasing Kiser and Reed home for the 8-0 Bobcat lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Lions scored a run and threatened to score more, but the Clarion defense was able to turn in a big play to hold them at one run, as catcher Johnna Rapp’s sweeping tag at the plate kept C-L from doing further damage.

Clarion’s offense continued to build the lead with single tallies in each of the last four innings of the game. In the fourth, Reed’s RBI single plated Zerfoss. In the fifth, Lexa McGill led off with a base hit to right field. Over, who then reached on a fielder’s choice, scored when Rapp singled to left field. The sixth inning saw Kyra Craig driving home Kiser to make the score 11-1.

After C-L scored a run in the bottom of the sixth, Clarion scored their final tally of the day, highlighted by a lead off triple by Keanna Over. It was Over’s fourth hit of the game. She then scored on Maya Thornton’s RBI groundout.
Constantino and the Clarion defense were able to get the Lions in order, in the bottom of the seventh, to make the final score 12-2 and even their record at 8-8.

It was a big week for the Bobcats as they are playing their best ball of the season. After the tough loss at Keystone on Monday, they responded very well with three well played follow up games.

There were plenty of offensive stars in the game, as Clarion pounded out fifteen hits. Over and Zerfoss led the hit parade. Over’s stats showed her recording four hits, including a double and triple. She had three RBI’s, while scoring three runs. Zerfoss also had three hits, scoring twice while pushing across a pair of runs. Kiser and Rapp also recorded a pair of hits. Kiser also scored three times. Thornton scored twice, while Rapp and Reed scored the other two Bobcat runs. Reed also had two hits, while Lexa McGill recorded her first hit of the season and Kyra Craig had her first RBI of the season.