Clarion Beats Clarion-Limestone 3-0 In Diamond Action (05/16/2018)
(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub) The Clarion Bobcats played spoiler on Clarion-Limestone’s Senior Day, downing their hosts this past Friday (May 11) in Strattanville.
Clarion’s Cam Craig, who seems to have emerged as the ace of the Bobcats’ 2018 pitching staff, had another good outing, throwing six and a third shut-out innings. He surrendered five hits while striking out nine.
The Bobcats got things going their way in the top of the first. Craig hit a line drive single to center field and then stole second. Skylar Rhoades drove in Craig with a single of his own, making the score 1-0. This would be the only run Clarion would score through the next five innings.
Craig’s shut-out stint on the mound wasn’t all smooth sailing, particularly in the first two innings. A combination of two-out errors and walks loaded the bases with Lions in the first, a threat which was negated when the final batter of the inning popped out. Clarion-Limestone loaded the bases with no outs in the second, but two pop flies and a strike out kept the Lions off the board.
Nate Datko had a single for the Bobcats.
With the first two innings in the books, things seemed to settle down, as the Lion batters went down in order during the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth. Craig, appearing to strengthen as the game progressed, struck out two of three batters in the fifth and fanned the side in the sixth.
After surrendering a run in the opening frame, Clarion-Limestone’s pitching proved a tough nut to crack. Starter Hayden Callen scattered two singles over the next three innings and let the defense make plays behind him. Interestingly, center fielder Ayden Wiles recorded five put outs on the eleven batters who came to the plate.
In the fifth inning Clarion-Limestone manager Todd Smith sent Drew Beichner to the bump in relief of Callen. Beichner, who went the rest of the way for the Lions, didn’t allow the Bobcats to string anything together in the fifth and all Clarion’s hitters flew out in the sixth to continue the Lions shut-out performance that began in the second.
Cal German went 2-3 for Clarion, rapping two singles.
The Bobcat offense got going again in the top of the seventh. Cole Slaugenhaup walked with one out and was driven to third on a Cal German line drive single to right. Spencer Miller followed German, hitting a single to left that scored Slaugenhaup, making the score 2-0. Unfortunately for Clarion-Limestone, Miller’s single was misplayed by the left fielder, a mistake which allowed the hustling German to also score, giving Clarion a 3-0 lead.
Craig started the seventh inning, but was pulled with one out and runners on first and second owing to pitch limit rules. Miller came on in relief, inducing a fielder’s choice and a fly out to center to seal the victory.
German had the Bobcats only multi-hit game, rapping two singles in three at-bats. Also singling for Clarion were Miller, Craig, Rhoades, Datko, and Slaugenhaup. Miller and Rhoades were credited with an RBI apiece.
(photographs by Christie Rhoades)