Clarion Drops Back-And-Forth Game To Brockway (05/14/2018)

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub)  After playing a tightly contested marathon the evening before, one could certainly understand if the Clarion Bobcat baseball team might be a little flat the next day when they traveled north to take on the Brockway Rovers (Wednesday, May 9). This was far from the case, however, as the Bobcats jumped out to an early lead and then played a fairly high scoring back-and-forth game against the Rovers. The contest was tied at five after the fourth inning, but Brockway used a two run fifth to propel them to an 8-6 victory.

Clarion came out of the gate firing in the top of the first, batting eight as they collected four hits and scored three runs. Spencer Miller got things going, legging out a grounder to the shortstop. With one out and Sterling Conner at the plate, Miller bolted for second, sliding in safely with his thirteenth stolen base of the season. Two pitches after the steal, Conner hit a hard single to center, scoring Miller and giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead. Conner, not content with standing at first, stole second on an 0-1 count to the next batter, Skylar Rhoades. Rhoades then smacked a shot to the fence for a double, plating Conner. A ground out to the left side saw Rhoades advance to third. He scored when Cutter Boggess reached first on an infield single, putting Clarion up 3-0.

Boggess got the start for Clarion and kept Brockway off the board in the bottom of the frame. After the first two outs had been recorded, Boggess surrendered a single and hit the Rover’s number four hitter. Brockway was unable to capitalize, as Boggess, showing great composure for a freshman, struck out the next Rover batter who came to the plate.

Brockway kept Clarion off the board the next two innings, a lull which saw the Rovers score two in both the second and third.

Down 4-3 the Bobcats reignited in the fourth inning. Drew Whren received a four pitch lead-off walk and stole second. The next batter, Skyler Pastor, was called upon to sacrifice and laid down a bunt that was fielded by the pitcher. Whren advanced to third and took home when he saw the Rover hurler throw the ball away trying to get Pastor at first. A Miller liner to the center fielder moved Pastor to second. It was at this point things got a little interesting. With Cam Craig at the plate the Rovers pitcher balked on a 2-0 count, moving Pastor to third. Two pitches later the Brockway pitcher balked again, scoring Pastor and giving Clarion a one run lead, 5-4.

Unfortunately for the Bobcats they couldn’t hold that lead, as the Rovers plated one in the home half of the stanza to knot the game 5-5.

After holding Clarion scoreless in the top of the fifth, Brockway capitalized on a Bobcat pitching change and touched up Pastor for two runs in the bottom, jumping out to a 7-5 lead.

The gritty Bobcat team clawed their way to within one run in the sixth. Whren singled to lead off the inning, stole second, and moved to third on a Lake Staub grounder to short. He crossed the plate with the Bobcats final run of the game on a Miller line drive to left field.

The Rovers scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth off Clarion reliever Cal German.

Not ones to concede any game, the Bobcats attempted to fight back in the seventh and came within ninety feet of evening up the score. Conner led off with a single to left, stole second, and went to third on a ground out to the right side. With two down and a tie in sight for Conner up the third base line, the fourth Clarion batter of the inning hit into a third-to-first out, ending the contest in Brockway’s favor, 8-6.

Clarion had eight hits, with Miller, Conner, and Rhoades rapping two apiece. Rhoades had the only extra base hit of the game for Clarion, a double in the first. Boggess and Whren each singled. Miller, Conner, Rhoades, and Boggess were credited with an RBI apiece.

The Bobcats stole an impressive seven bases during the contest. Conner and Whren each swiped two, while Boggess, Miller, and Rhoades stole one.

Boggess started and pitched four innings for Clarion, giving up three earned runs and striking out four. Pastor followed Boggess with an inning of relief, fanning one and surrendering no earned runs. German finished the game for Clarion, striking out one and being charged with an earned run during his inning of work.