Clarion 10u All-Star Team Captures District 25 Banner (07/12/2018)

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub)  Three days after the Clarion 11-12 All-Stars secured their District 25 title, the 10u All-Stars found themselves racing around Paul A. Weaver Park clutching a championship banner of their own. Just like its older counterpart, the 10u team won the 2018 District 25 tournament with a dominate victory over a team from Titusville (Tuesday, July 10). To reach the finals, they had to first dispatch teams from Oil City and Butler.

Thursday, July 5 (Game 1): Clarion 18 – Oil City 6

In the earlier going this game was closer than the final score indicated. That being noted, however, the 10u team led the entire way to win the first game in its quest for the district crown.

Following a scoreless first, Clarion, playing as the away team, plated one in the top of the second and five in the third. Oil City got on the board in their half of the third, making the score 6-1. Both teams scored two in the fourth, with Oil City shutting out Clarion in the fifth and capitalizing by putting up two, drawing the game closer at 8-5. Clarion’s scoreless fifth was simply a lull before the storm, as the local boys exploded for 10 runs in the top of the sixth, giving them an 18-5 lead, and all but locking up the game. Oil City managed a run in the bottom of the frame, setting the final at 18-6.

The Clarion 10u team connected for six singles, with Nathan Frederick, Dylan Smail, Parker Miller, Ethan Rex, and Paul Craig good for one each. The young squad was selective at the plate, benefitting from 15 walks. Hayden Hindman and Rex were credited with three RBI, Miller two, and Paul Craig, Reece Runyan, Wyatt Watterson, and Frederick one. Miller stole two bases, with Rex and Frederick swiping one.

Liam Huwar started on the mound for Clarion, striking out three in an inning and two-thirds. Pitching out of the bullpen were Craig, Rex, and Miller. Craig threw one and a third innings, fanning three. Rex hurled two-thirds of an inning and struck out one. Miller worked two innings and sat down two via strike out.

Saturday, July 7 (Semifinal): Clarion 19 – Butler 3 (3 innings)

The 10u All-Stars semifinal match-up with Butler was the first game of a twilight doubleheader at Paul A. Weaver Park.

Butler jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but was behind 4-1 by innings end. Clarion then held Butler scoreless in the top of the second, going off for 11 runs in the bottom to extend its lead, 15-1. Butler managed two in the top of the third, but Clarion tacked on another four during its at-bat, making the score 19-3 and causing the contest to be abbreviated.

Liam Huwar had three hits for Clarion, a triple and two singles, and was good for two RBI. Dawson Smail connected for two singles and was credited with driving in a run. Also singling for the 10u All-Stars were Parker Miller, Nathan Frederick, Wyatt Watterson, Gabe Anderson, Reese Runyan, and Alex Love. Miller, Frederick, Runyan, Love, and Ethan Rex each had an RBI. Huwar, Rex, and Watterson stole bases.

Huwar pitched two innings and struck out three. Watterson worked one inning on the mound, striking out one.

Tuesday, July 10 (Final): Clarion 15 – Titusville 0 (3 innings)

Clarion collected 13 hits, the defense played error free, and pitchers Wyatt Watterson and Paul Craig shut out Titusville on one hit in the 10u All-Stars’ District 25-championship victory. The local team scored five in the first, seven in the second, and three in the third to win going away in a “fifteen-run” shortened game.

Parker Miller (double, single), Nathan Frederick (two singles), and Ethan Rex (two singles) had multi-hit games for Clarion in the victory. Alex Love tripled and Liam Huwar singled. Dylan Smail, Gabe Anderson, Reese Runyan, Hunter Lechner, and Drew Martz also singled. Frederick had three RBI, Anderson and Martz two, and Huwar, Miller, Runyan, and Love one. Frederick stole three bases.

Watterson pitched an inning and a third and fanned three. Craig struck out three in his inning and two-thirds on the mound.

The 10u All-Stars now advance to the Section 1 tournament, which is scheduled to begin Monday, July 16 in Meadville. Follow the postseason progress of the 10u All-Stars by “Liking” the Clarion Little League All-Stars Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CLLAllStars/)

(statistics courtesy of Clarion Little League 10u Allstars GameChanger, photograph courtesy of Brian Smail)