Clarion Baseball Downs Forest 18-0 in Three Innings: Expanded Coverage (04/16/2018)

Skylar Pastor got the start, pitching two innings and striking out five.

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub) Some might argue that the weather was not fit for man nor beast. In this fickle early spring, however, it was deemed fit for high school baseball. And so it was that the Clarion Area High School nine squared off against Forest Area in a cold, driving rain at County Park on Wednesday, April 11. As it turned out the weather was to the Bobcats’ liking, as they dominated the squad from up north, winning an 18-0 three inning, mercy rule no-hitter.

(The game was originally scheduled to be played at a Forest Area field. Because of adverse playing conditions there, it was moved to Clarion’s County Park, with Forest Area designated as the home team.)

Spencer Miller had a single and two doubles, driving in four.

Spencer Miller, the Bobcats’ leadoff man, opened the game by walking and advanced to third when a Nate Datko drive was dropped by the centerfielder. With runners on the corners, Cam Craig stroked a double to left, scoring both Miller and Datko, giving Clarion a 2-0 lead with no outs. Sterling Connor moved Craig to third with a shot to the outfield, reaching base himself when the centerfielder again misplayed the ball. Craig scored from third on a Skylar Rhoades sacrifice to the right fielder. The Forest Area starter then retired the next two batters, holding the Bobcats’ to a 3-0 advantage.

Noah Burke led off the bottom of the first for Forest Area, reaching base when his bunt was mishandled. Though Burke would go on to steal second and third, his scoring chances were neutralized as sophomore Skylar Pastor, making his first career start for Clarion, struck out the next three batters.

The Bobcats’ offense kicked into high gear during their half of the second, with thirteen batters coming to the plate. Cal German took a one out walk and motored to third on a Miller double to center. Datko walked to load the bases, after which Forest Area made a pitching change. The new pitcher got off to a good start, inducing Craig to fly out to the second baseman. Though the infield-fly rule was in effect on Craig’s pop up, runners are able to advance at their own risk in such a situation, and that’s exactly what the Bobcats did. With Datko pushing the action from first and going for second, Miller moved to third and German trotted across the plate for Clarion’s first tally of the frame.

Sterling Conner hustles to beat out an infield single, one of his three hits.

Connor followed Craig with a two out infield single to the right side, scoring Miller and moving Datko to third. Rhoades then notched another infield single, this down the third base line, loading the bases. With Drew Whren at the plate Datko’s aggressive base running style again came into play, as he scooted home on a passed ball for the Bobcats’ third run of the inning, making the score 6-0. Conner and Rhoades also seized the opportunity presented by the passed ball to advance a base, moving to third and second, respectively. Whren eventually walked to load the bases, instigating another Forest Area pitching change.

Nick Frederick had a single and RBI.

Conner seized upon the pitching change to make his move, stealing home while Rhoades scooted from second to third. Nick Frederick drove Rhoades home with a fly ball to the right side, as Whren went to second. Pastor then loaded the bases when he reached on an infield error. German followed Pastor and was hit by a pitch, forcing in Whren from third to make the score 9-0. With bases juiced, Miller, making his second plate appearance of the frame, rapped a hit to center that scored Whren and Frederick, giving Clarion an 11-0 advantage. The inning came to an end when the next batter ground out to the pitcher.

After the long top half of the inning, Pastor retook the bump for Clarion in the bottom of the frame. He walked Forest Area’s first two batters, Daniel Schwab and Manny Tirado, respectively. Schwab would eventually work his way around to third by stealing, but Tirado’s time on the base paths was short lived, as Pastor picked him off at first. With one down, Pastor struck out the next two batters to erase any threat which might have been posed by Schwab.

Lake Staub drove in two runs with a fly ball to center field.

Clarion continued their offensive outburst in the third, sending eleven to the plate and scoring seven more runs. Craig led off the inning by reaching first on an error, moving to second and then third on two consecutive passed balls during Conner’s at bat. Conner finally got a pitch he could work with and snapped a liner to center, scoring Craig. Conner took second when Cole Slaugenhaup singled to right. Mitch Geiger followed Slaugenhaup with a walk, loading the bases for Lake Staub. Staub hit a fly ball that was misplayed by the center fielder, giving him first, pushing Geiger to second, and, more importantly, scoring Conner and Slaugenhaup to stake Clarion to a 14-0 lead.

Staub’s RBI brought about another pitching change for Forest Area. The new reliever got off to an inauspicious beginning, walking the first two batters he faced, Pastor and Noah DiTullio, respectively, forcing in Geiger while keeping the bases loaded. Miller followed DiTullio with a double to right field, plating Staub and Pastor to make the score 17-0 and moving DiTullio to third. Cutter Boggess walked to load the bases. DiTullio was caught while trying to steal on a ball that got away from the Forest Area catcher during Craig’s at bat. Craig shook off this distraction to connect for a single, a play which saw Miller get thrown out trying to score and moved Boggess to third. Boggess would cross the plate with the final run of the inning and game on a Conner single to right, making the score 18-0.

Cutter Boggess completed the combined no-hitter, striking out two in his one inning of work.

Boggess was called upon to begin the bottom of the third for the Bobcats in relief of Pastor. Boggess struck out the first batter he faced, but then hit Burke, Forest Area’s second hitter. Burke, trying to duplicate his acts of thievery from the first inning, broke for second on the first pitch to the next batter, but was thrown out by Staub, in at catcher, for the second out. It was all Boggess from there, as he struck out his second batter of the inning to finish the game.

Miller wielded the big bat for Clarion, connecting for three hits, a single and two doubles, and driving in four runs. Conner had three singles and plated three runs. Craig also enjoyed a multi-hit game for the Bobcats, singling and doubling, with two RBI. Frederick, Slaugenhaup, Rhoades, and Pastor all singled. Staub was credited with two RBI, with DiTullio, German, Rhoades, and Frederick driving in one apiece.

Pastor pitched the first two innings for Clarion, striking out five on his way to earning the win. Boggess worked one inning in relief, striking out two. Neither pitcher allowed a Forest Area hit.

(photographs by Christie Datko)