Clarion Downs C-L On Senior Day (05/07/2018)
Drew Whren stands on second. He had a double and two RBI.
(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub) The Clarion Bobcat baseball team celebrated Senior Day on Wednesday, April 2 with a 12-1 five inning victory over the rival Clarion-Limestone (C-L) Lions. Fittingly it was the Bobcat seniors who paced the Clarion attack. Seniors Cam Craig and Spencer Miller, along with freshman Cal German, limited C-L to just three hits. Craig, Miller, and Sterling Conner, the team’s other senior, all enjoyed multi-hit games as well. And, for icing on the cake, the Bobcat defense played flawlessly, committing not a single error.
Craig, Clarion’s starting pitcher, retired the first six C-L batters he faced. Meanwhile, the Bobcat offense, used Craig’s shut-out work on the mound to jump out to a commanding lead, scoring three in the first inning and five in the second to go up 8-0.
Spencer Miller and Cam Craig after crossing the plate.
Miller got things going for the home team in the first, hitting a hard single to left field. Craig followed with a single of his own, putting runners on first and second for Conner. Conner rapped the Bobcats’ third consecutive single to left, plating Miller and moving Craig to second. The C-L pitcher, cognizant of the fact that trouble was brewing, attempted to pick-off Conner in order to quell the uprising. Unfortunately for the Lions, he over threw the first basemen, allowing Craig to scamper into third. On the next pitch, Conner moved up a position owing to catcher indifference. Skylar Rhoades, batting after Conner, scored Craig and moved Conner to third on a fielder’s choice. Conner came around to score when Drew Whren flew out to the center fielder, giving the Bobcats a 3-0 lead.
Skylar Rhoades at first. He had a single and three RBI.
Clarion sent eleven to the plate in the bottom of the second, nine after C-L had made two outs. It was Miller who again got things going, this time with a hard double down the third base line. Miller didn’t stay put at second for long, stealing third and scoring when the catcher made a throwing error trying to catch him in the act. With Miller safely home, Craig stroked a double over the left fielder’s head. He moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Conner connected for the third double in a row, making the score 5-0. The inning should have been over when Rhoades grounded to the left side, but a C-L throwing error allowed him to arrive safely at first while Conner pulled into third. Cole Slaugenhaup walked to load the bases, setting the table for Whren. Whren again drove the ball to center, this time for a double, scoring Conner and Rhoades and moving Slaugenhaup to third, making the score 7-0. With runners on second and third, the C-L pitcher issued two free passes, an act which forced Slaugenhaup home with the Bobcats’ final run of the inning.
Craig continued to shut C-L down in the third, though the Lions managed their first hit of the game and were able to load the bases before center fielder Rhoades started an inning ending double play on a ball that looked like it might drop in.
Nick Frederick hit a sacrifice fly to score a run.
The Bobcats added three more runs in the third. Miller walked to lead off the inning and moved to second on a Craig grounder that saw him reach first. Conner’s third hit of the afternoon, a single to center, juiced the bases for Rhoades, who singled to score Miller and Craig, setting the score at 10-0 in the Bobcats favor. A walk again loaded the bases full of Bobcats, with Conner scoring the final run of the inning from third when Nick Frederick sacrificed to center.
Clarion Manager Rob Jewett made a pitching change to start the fourth, sending Miller to the mound. With two outs Miller hit a C-L batter who scored the Lions’ only run of the game when the next batter connected for an RBI double.
Ahead 11-1 the Bobcats added another run in the bottom of the frame. With one out Miller was awarded first when he was hit by a pitch. After striking out the next batter, the C-L pitcher walked the following three, forcing Miller across the plate to make the score 12-1.
Cal German pitched the final inning, striking out two.
Jewett called upon German to finish the game on the mound. After surrendering a lead-off double, German buckled down and retired the next three Lion batters, two by strike out, ending the game.
Conner finished with three hits for the Bobcats, a double and two singles. He knocked in two runs. Miller and Craig each had two hits, a single and double apiece. Whren doubled and Rhoades singled to round out the Clarion hit parade. Rhoades was credited with three RBI, Whren two, and Frederick, Lake Staub, and Noah DiTullio one. Miller and Rhoades each swiped a base.
Craig pitched the first three innings, striking out two in earning the win. Miller and German each pitched an inning of relief.
Following the game, Clarion’s seniors were recognized and received a plaque prepared by Boosters’ Vice President Christie Darko. Recognized were:
Cam Craig with his parents, Jason and Tracy.
Cam Craig…Cam is a four year starter for the Bobcat nine. He also participated in golf. The son of Jason and Tracy Craig, Cam is planning to study exercise science at Slippery Rock and eventually become a physical therapist.
Sterling Conner with his mother, Jessica Smolko.
Sterling Conner…Sterling started for three years on the baseball team. He also played football for the Bobcats. The son of Jessica Smolko, Sterling plans to attend Slippery Rock.
Spencer Miller with his parents, Laura and Scott.
Spencer Miller…Spencer is a four year starter on the diamond. He also played football and basketball. The son of Scott and Laura Miller, Spencer will study biomedical engineering and play football at Gannon University.
(photographs by Christie Datko)