Clarion Shuts Out North Clarion 2-0 (05/16/2018)

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub)  In a game that was originally scheduled to be played at North Clarion, the Clarion Bobcats instead hosted the Wolves at County Park on Thursday, May 10. Playing at home may have been just what the doctor ordered, as the Bobcats, losers of two away games earlier in the week, took a 2-0 win over their unexpected guests.

Skylar Rhoades went the distance for Clarion, pitching a three hit shut-out.

Pitching was the story of the game. Clarion starter Skylar Rhoades went the distance in earning the shut-out win, scattering three hits over seven innings while striking out six. North Clarion hurler Matson Higgins also pitched the entire game, surrendering seven hits and a single earned run. He struck out three. Perhaps the most noteworthy pitching statistic is that neither issued a walk to the opposition.

It was three up, three down for each team in the first. Except for Higgins striking out Clarion’s lead-off hitter, both pitchers leaned primarily on their defense to make plays.

North Clarion threatened in the top of the second, a frame which saw the Wolves pick up two of their three hits. Noah Myers led off with a single up the middle and moved to second when Korey Mills hit a two out fly that landed safely in shallow left field. These two withered on the bases as Rhoades struck out the fifth Wolves batter of the inning.

Rhoades led off Clarion’s half of the second by singling to right-center, advancing to second on a wild pitch to the next batter, Nate Datko. He scampered to third when Datko hit into a right-side fielder’s choice and scored the Bobcats’ first run of the game on a Drew Whren single to left field. A double play off an infield fly got North Clarion out of the inning without further damage.

Cal German makes the tag on a North Clarion steal attempt.

Higgins got the Wolves final hit of the game in the third, a one out single to center. He was taken off the base paths during a steal attempt, Bobcat second baseman Cal German corralling the catcher’s throw to make the tag. A harmless fly ball to right ended the inning.

Clarion extended their lead in the bottom of the third. With one out Cole Slaugenhaup reached first on an error. Spencer Miller followed with a single. Cam Craig drove in Slaugenhaup from second when he put bat to ball, singling on a grounder to right. Having runners on second and third with only one out, the Bobcats appeared in excellent position to add to their 2-0 lead. North Clarion wouldn’t let that happen, however, as Miller was forced at third on a fielder’s choice and Craig was picked-off by Higgins shortly after settling at second.

Rhoades cruised through the fourth, fifth, and sixth, setting down nine consecutive North Clarion batters, striking out four of the nine he faced.

Clarion put runners on base in each of these frames but proved unable to string anything together that resulted in runs. In the fifth the Bobcats stranded runners on first and second and in the sixth they couldn’t capitalize upon a lead-off triple into right field by Rhoades.

The Bobcats took to the field in the top of the seventh with the aim of protecting a 2-0 lead, knowing from their experience at Cranberry two days prior that such a slight margin can be ephemeral.

North Clarion did their job, putting the ball into play. After an initial miscue by Clarion’s third basemen, the Bobcat’s defense stiffened, recording two consecutive outs on a fielders’ choices. The end came for North Clarion when the Wolves final hitter lined out to the second baseman just a bit after a quick hour and ten minutes of play.

Higgins, Myers, and Mills had North Clarion’s three hits, all singles.

Craig, Rhoades, and Whren each had two hits, with Rhoades triple being the only extra base knock of the game. Miller recorded a single. Craig and Whren received credit for an RBI apiece.

(photos by Christie Datko)