Bobcat Baseball Team Plays Two Exhibitions In DuBois (03/24/2019)

(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub)  As part of its preparation for the regular season the Clarion Bobcat baseball team played two exhibition games in DuBois last week. On Tuesday, March 19 the Bobcat nine played a six inning contest against the Dubois High School Beavers at Showers Field. They returned to Jefferson County the next day (Wednesday, March 20), playing nine innings at Stern Family Field against the Dubois Central Catholic Cardinals.

Exhibition #1: DuBois 15 – Clarion 6 (6 innings)

The Bobcats scored four runs in the top of the first and another in the second, carrying a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the frame. DuBois rallied, however, plating five during their second at bat to go up 6-5. After neither team scored in the third, Clarion pushed a run across the plate in the fourth to tie the contest 6-6. The game remained knotted until the bottom of the fifth when the Beavers exploded for nine runs, taking advantage of Bobcat errors. Clarion was unable to score in the sixth, setting the final at 15-6.

Eight Bobcats recorded hits, including Skylar Rhoades, Cal German, and Chase Kriebel who each connected for triples. Rhoades drove in three runs. Drew Wrhen, Nate Datko, Noah DiTullio, Cole Wrhen, and Cam Lapinto all singled. Drew Wrhen, Skyler Pastor, Datko, and DiTullio were credited with an RBI apiece.

Rhoades got the start, striking out two in his two inning appearance. Pastor and Christian Simko both pitched an inning, fanning one apiece in their stints. Lake Staub also took the mound for an inning.

Exhibition #2: DuBois Central Catholic 10 – Clarion 7 (9 innings)

The Bobcats fell 10-7 in a contest extended so that the Cardinals could look at their roster of pitchers. Clarion got on the board first, scoring a run in the top of the third. DuBois Central Catholic (DCC) forged ahead in the fourth, when two crossed the plate. Down a run, two Bobcats scored in the top of the fifth, giving Clarion a 3-2 lead. Clarion’s advantage was short lived, as DCC tied the game in the bottom of the frame.

With the score knotted 3-3 after five, the Bobcats pushed one across in the top the sixth and the Cardinals four when they got their turn at bat. Clarion added runs in the seventh and eighth, narrowing DCC’s advantage, 7-6. DCC put the game away in the eighth, scoring three. The Bobcats mustered a final tally in the top of the ninth, making the score 10-7.

Clarion had six hits against nine different pitchers. Lake Staub and Christian Simko had the only extra base hits of the game, both doubles. Singling were Nate Datko, Skylar Rhoades, Cal German, and Cam LaPinto. Breckin Rex received credit for two RBI, while Simko, Rhoades, German, and Lapinto knocked in one each.

Freshman Chase Kriebel pitched the first three innings, striking out six and not surrendering a run during his time on the mound. Datko pitched two innings, striking out one. German, Rex, and Lapinto each pitched an inning, with Rex notching a strike out.

The Bobcats are scheduled to open the 2019 regular season on Monday, March 25 with a 6:00 game against the Karns City Gremlin at Pullman Park in Butler.