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Clarion Defeats Cranberry 12-2 On The Diamond (04/23/2018)

Cam Craig pitched 5 innings to get the win.

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub)  The Clarion Bobcat baseball team cruised to a 12-2 five inning victory over the Cranberry Berries under bright sunshine at County Park on Friday, April 20. It was a solid all around effort by the Bobcats; Cam Craig threw only 56 pitches in going the distance on the mound, Clarion batters combined for eleven hits, and the defense played virtually error free.

Craig, making his first start of the 2018 season, had a relatively stress free first inning, allowing only a two out single. This runner was nullified when the next batter ground to shortstop.

Nate Datko singled and picked up an RBI.

The Clarion offense got things going early, plating four runs in the bottom of the frame. Spencer Miller, leading off as usual for the Bobcats, stroked a line drive double to right. Craig followed with a single to center, moving Miller to third. Sterling Conner put Craig in scoring position when he ground out to the pitcher. Miller came around to score the first run of the game on a Skylar Rhoades single to center, a hit which saw Craig pull into third. Nate Datko plated Craig with a single to right, making the score 2-0. Rhoades, who advanced to third on the Datko hit, scored on a passed ball. Datko, who also took advantage of the passed ball by taking second, would score the final run of the inning when Cole Slaugenhaup’s two out drive to right was misplayed, making the score 4-0.

Things got a little interesting for Craig in the top of the second. He walked the first Cranberry batter and the second reached base on an infield error. With two men on Craig buckled down, striking out the next two he faced and inducing the third to ground out.

Skylar Rhoades had 3 hits and 3 RBI for the Bobcats.

Clarion’s offensive onslaught continued in their half of the second. Noah DiTullio led off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Miller followed with a single. Craig helped his own cause; driving in DiTullio with a single to right, moving Miller to third, and helping himself to second on the throw in from the outfield. Miller came around to score on a Conner shot to the left side, putting the Bobcats ahead 6-0. Both Craig and Conner would score when Rhoades doubled to right, giving Clarion an 8-0 lead.

Cranberry got on the board in the third, the only inning in which Clarion didn’t score. The Berries’ lead-off batter walked and advanced to third when the next hitter doubled. Cranberry would get their first run of the contest when the runner on third scored as the result of a fielder’s choice. A fielder’s choice would also score Cranberry’s second run of the game, cutting into the Bobcats’ lead 8-2. These would be the Berries final runs of the game, as Craig put the next six hitters he faced over the course of the next two innings down in order.

The Bobcats added four more runs to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, setting the stage for the 10-run, mercy rule victory. Craig led off by taking a walk, moving to second when Conner singled to center. Rhoades followed Conner’s single with one of his own, scoring Craig to give Clarion an 11-2 lead and putting runners on first and second. Drew Whren moved Conner to third and Rhoades to second when he ground out to the catcher. Lake Staub walked on four pitches to load the basses. Cutter Boggess walked after Staub, forcing in Conner, after which Cal German got hit by a pitch to force in Conner. The Bobcats scored the final run of the contest when Miller received the fourth free pass of the inning, pushing Staub across the plate and giving Clarion a 12-2 lead that would hold up for the victory.

Craig tries to pick a Cranberry base runner off first.

Rhoades wielded the big stick for Clarion, collecting three hits, including a double, and plating three runs. Conner and Craig also had multi-hit games, as each knocked two singles and drove in a run. Miller doubled, with Datko, Slaugenhaup, and DiTullio all singling. German, Boggess, Datko, and Miller were each credited with an RBI. Slaugenhaup stole the Bobcats only base of the game.

Craig pitched all five innings for Clarion, striking out three.

(photographs by Christie Datko)