Softball: Lady Cats Go 3-0 This Week, Qualify For District Nine Playoffs (05/04/19)

(Photo by Kim Constantino) Lindsey Kemmer smacks game winning single against Cranberry.

The Clarion Area Lady Cats Softball Team went 3-0 this week, to improve to 10-3 and qualify for the District Nine playoffs along the way. The Cats were home, at Weaver Park, for each of the games and they were very active at bat, averaging fourteen hits and over ten runs.

Opening the week on Monday (April 29th), the Lady Cats downed the Keystone Lady Panthers 15-0, in four innings. Clarion scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, two in the third and nine more in the fourth.

Brenna Campbell and Payton Simko each had big games. Campbell had 3 hits, including a double, driving in 4 runs and scoring three runs. Simko had 2 hits and 3 RBIs, while scoring a run.

Carly Best had a pair of hits, including a double and scored twice. Lyndsey Kemmer had 2 hits, a pair of RBIs and two runs scored. Kait Constantino singled and doubled, drove in a run and scored three times. Jordan Best hit a pair of singles and scored twice. Tori Vega drove in 2 runs and scored once. McKenzie Aaron scored a run.

Clarion finished with thirteen hits.

Constantino went all four innings, in the circle, striking out 8 batters, while giving up just 2 hits and surrendering no walks.

On Wednesday (May 1st), the Cats downed previously unbeaten A-C Valley 8-1. Clarion scored three runs in the first inning, two in the second, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth. The Lady Falcons’ lone run cam in the seventh.

Constantino had a big day at the plate and in the circle. She was 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring 4 runs and driving in a run, while scattering 6 hits and striking out eleven.

Carly Best was also 4-for-4, with a double, 2 RBIs and a run scored. Simco had a pair of hits, drove in a run and scored a run. Jordan Best singled, doubled and drove in a run. Vega singled and drove in two runs, while Campbell and Noel Anthony each scored a run.

Cami McNany had two hit for the Falcons.

The Lady Cats downed the Cranberry Lady Berries 9-8, in a nine inning affair on Thursday (May 2nd), with Kemmer hitting a single to drive in Carly Best with the winning run.

Clarion opened up the scoring, plating 5 runs in the first inning and adding three more in the fourth, to take an 8-0 lead. The Berries came up with 7 runs of their own in the top of the sixth and then scored another run, in the seventh, to send the game into bonus innings. Neither team scored in the eighth. The Cats held the Berries scoreless in the top of the ninth, to set the stage for Kemmer’s memorable game winning hit.

Kemmer finished the game with 3 hits, including a triple, with two runs batted in. Brenna Campbell had 3 hits, including a triple, with 2 RBIs and and two runs scored.

Carly Best had 3 hits and scored a pair of runs. Vega had a pair of hits, driving in two runs and scoring a run. Simko singled twice, drove in a run and scored once. Jordan Best had two singles and drove in a run and Constantino singled and scored a pair of runs.

Constantino worked all nine innings, striking out 12 and walking one.

Malliah Schreck had three hits, including a double, with an RBI for the Berries.

Clarion Coach Dan Shofestall had this to say about the week and what he expects to face in coming games, “It was a pretty productive week for our team, as we went 3-0 and qualified for the D9 playoffs.

“We did a lot of good things as a team, but we also realize there are many things we have to continue to work on and get better at, as we come down the stretch run of our season and into the playoffs. We understand that we are coming into the toughest part of the season, as we will be playing some very good teams and we have to be ready to play ball each and every night.”

Coach Shofestall has a lot to like in this group of players, “I like the makeup of our team. They have a great willingness to learn the game of softball and they have a hefty desire to make themselves and their team better. They have made tremendous strides since the beginning of our season.

“They are a fun group to coach.”

The Lady Cats finish out their five game home stand next week, hosting Redbank Valley on Monday (May 6th) and Union for Senior Night, on Wednesday (May 8th).

Coach Shofestall and the Boosters send out this invitation to the public, “Senior night is Wednesday, May 8th vs. Union at Paul Weaver Park. The team is honoring our two outstanding seniors, Carly Best and Lindsey Kemmer and the contributions they have made to Clarion Softball and the Clarion school they represent.

“The Clarion Boosters invite everyone to attend our Senior Night and congratulate Carly and Lindsey.”

(Thanks to Coach Shofestall for his quotes and to Kim Constantion for the photo. Great work Lady Cats and congratulations on qualifying for D9 playoffs!!!!)