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Clarion Baseball Falls to St. Marys 6-1: Expanded Coverage (04/18/2018)

Skylar Rhoades got the start for Clarion, pitching 3 1/3 innings and striking out 2.

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub)  Friday, April 12 was that rare day in this early spring/extended winter, a great day for a baseball game. The sun was out and temperatures hovered in the mid-70s. It was certainly in contrast to the last time the Bobcat baseball team set foot on the field, which saw them up end Forest Area 18-0 in a cold, pelting rain (Wed., April 11). Unfortunately, it seems these Cats might prefer the cold and wet, at least in the early going, as they fell to the St. Marys Flying Dutchmen 6-1 in non-conference action on an almost pristine spring day (albeit a little bit gusty).

The Bobcats had their chances throughout the contest, putting men on base in six of the seven innings, however, the Flying Dutch defense proved stingy, especially with runners in scoring position. To this end, the most telling statistic when it came to the outcome might have been runners left on base, with Clarion stranding twelve to St. Marys’ two.

Cam Craig had a single for Clarion.

Neither team was able to push a runner across the plate in the first. Clarion had two hits in the frame, singles by Spencer Miller and Cam Craig, but fly outs by the last two batters precluded either runner from scoring. St. Marys hit the ball hard in the bottom of the inning. Nifty, quick reflex plays by Clarion’s Miller at shortstop and starting pitcher Skylar Rhoades to snare liners prevented the first two Flying Dutch batters from reaching base. Nate Beimel stroked a two out double, but was stranded when the next batter ground out.

Clarion loaded the bases with two outs in the second, the product of three consecutive St. Marys’ errors. A harmless fly out to center ended the Bobcat threat and inning. The Flying Dutch got on the board in the bottom of the stanza. With two down Jake Meeker was hit by a pitch and then stole his way into scoring position. Austin Sadosky followed with a flare to right, driving in Meeker for the first run of the game. Sadosky would go on to steal second, but a move by Rhoades to Miller caught the Flying Dutch runner flat footed, picking him off to close the inning.

Lake Staub blocking an errant pitch.

St. Marys would again bend in the third, but like in the second, the Flying Dutch would not break and allow Clarion to score. Bobcat senior Sterling Conner connected for a one out single to left then stole second. Rhoades followed with a walk, but was called out on a fielder’s choice at second, a play that saw Conner scoot to third and Drew Whren reach first. Lake Staub walked to load the bases, but the next batter ground out to first, curtailing the Clarion uprising.

Brendon Rolley and Brandon Sicheri walked to lead off the St. Marys half of the third and then each moved up a bag when a Jared Groll bunt was misplayed, allowing him to reach first. With no outs, Nate Beimel grounded sharply toward second, but Miller, drifting to his right from short, snagged the ball and in a fluid motion touched the bag and threw to first for the double play. Rolley, going on contact, scored as did Sicheri, who used a Bobcat error to advance from third, putting the Flying Dutch ahead 3-0.

Spencer Miller went 3-4 and stole 2 bases.

Clarion would get on the board in the fourth, largely due to an individual effort by Miller. With one out, Miller made it to first on an infield single, stole second, and then took home when the St. Marys’ catcher overthrew the third baseman trying to prevent another steal. Ryan Bressler, on in relief after Groll walked Clarion’s Nate Datko, stymied any momentum which might be swinging in the Bobcats’ favor by striking out the first two batters he faced.

St. Marys would add to their 3-1 advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Jesse McKee led off with a single and advanced to third on a Hayden Tettis single to right field. McKee scored when Tettis induced an errant throw on a steal attempt, a play in which he safely attained second. Tettis motored to third on a fielder’s choice and crossed the dish on a wild pitch, making the score 5-1 in the Flying Dutch’s favor.

Noah DiTullio anchored second base for the Bobcats.

Bressler held Clarion scoreless in the fifth, though Miller singled to right field with two outs to reach base for the fourth time in the game. The bottom of the fifth saw St. Marys extend their lead. Groll connected for a one out double to left, took third when the next batter, Nate Beimel, grounded to first, and scored to put the Flying Dutch up 6-1 on a Tim Beimel single.

Clarion would threaten in the sixth. With one out Conner reached first on an infield error and stole second. Rhoades followed with a shot to center. The knock, which had the potential to score Conner if it reached the gap, was snared by St. Marys’ centerfielder Sicheri, simultaneously robbing Rhoades of a hit and holding the runner. Conner would make it to third on an infield single by Skylar Pastor, but the rally would end when the next batter grounded to second, setting the final score at 6-1.

Groll pitched the first three and a third innings for St. Marys on his way to earning the win. He fanned three, walked two, and surrendered four hits. Bressler relieved Groll, striking out four, walking one, and allowing two hits in his three and two-thirds innings of work.

Cam Craig pitched the final 3 2/3 innings in relief, surrendering but a single hit.

Rhoades took the loss for Clarion. He threw three and a third innings, striking out two, walking a pair, and giving up four hits. Craig pitched the final two and two-thirds innings, giving up just one hit

The Flying Dutch had six hits. Groll and Nate Beimel doubled, with Tim Beimel, McKee, Tettis, and Sadosky each singling. Tim Beimel, Meeker, Sadosky, and Rolley all swiped a bag. Clarion also had six hits, all singles. Miller was 3-4, with Craig, Conner, and Pastor each getting a knock. Conner and Miller stole two bases apiece, while Pastor snagged one.

(photographs by Christie Datko)