Clarion Area Bobcats Land Four On First Team, One On Second On YDL Sports Network/D9and10Sports.com All-D9 Baseball Team; Dawson Smail, Devon Lauer, Coach Rob Jewett Garner Top Awards

YDL Sports Network/D9and10Sports.com announced their 2023 All-District Nine Baseball Team on Thursday, June 24th and the District Nine Class-1A Champion and Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class-1A, Champion Clarion Area Bobcats were well represented, as three Bobcats received Top Honors, with four players being named to the First Team and on on the Second Team.

Junior shortstop Dawson Smail was selected as the Player of the Year. Dawson hit .538, going 43 for 80, with 15 doubles, a home run and a triple. He had 29 RBIs and 44 runs scored.

Fellow junior Devon Lauer was named Pitcher of the Year. Devon had a 9-1 record, with an ERA of 0.50. He was 4-0 in the state playoffs (including the Championship Game). In 56 innings on the mound, he struck out 52 while walking just 17.

Both were selected to the First Team at their positions.

Bobcats’ Skipper Rob Jewett was named Manager of the Year, after he guided the Cats to the district and state championships, and a 21-4 overall record.

Joining Dawson and Devon on the First Team are sophomore second baseman Noah Harrison and sophomore relief pitcher Derek Smail, with sophomore outfielder Bryce Brinkley being selected to the second team.

Noah batted .458, drove in 30 runs and scored eighteen. Derek was 2-1, with two saves (one in the state semifinal and the other in the championship) he also batted .379, with four home runs, 4 doubles and a triple. Bryce batted .404, with ten RBIs.

(More of each of the Bobcat players’ stats are included in the Team Listing below.)

Punxsutawney freshman Nevin Day, was selected Rookie of the Year.

(Congratulations to Coach Jewett, Dawson, Devon, Noah, Derek, Bryce, Nevin and all those selected to the 2023 YDL Sports Network/D9and10Sports.com All-D9 Baseball Team!!!! Thanks to Stephanie Brinkley and Nate Girvan for their photos and to Chris Rossetti for information for this article!!)

2023 YDL Sports Network/D9and10Sports.com All-District 9 First Team Baseball

Catcher – Tate Minich, Redbank Valley; First Base-Carter Savage, Punxsutawney; Second Base – Noah Harrison, Clarion (Batting Average – .458, OPS (On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging) – 1.082, Doubles – 3, Triples – 1, Runs Batted In – 30, Runs Scored – 18); Shortstop – Dawson Smail, Clarion – Batting Average – .538, OPS [On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging] – 1.500, Doubles – 15, Triples – 3,  Home Runs – 4, Runs Batted In – 29, Runs Scored – 44 ; Third Base – Nevin Day, Punxsutawney; Outfield – Morgen Billotte, Clearfield; Outfield – Aiden Snowberger, DuBois Central Catholic; Outfielder Zach Dinger, Punxsutawney; Designated Hitter – Carter Hickman, DuBois Central Catholic; Utility Player – Brayden Fox, DuBois Central Catholic; Utility Player – Mallick Metcalfe, Karns City; Starting Pitcher – Devon Lauer, Clarion (Win-Loss -9-1, Innings Pitched – 56, Earned Run Average – 0.50, Strikeouts – 52, Walks – 17, also on offense, Batting Average – .270, Doubles – 2, Triples – 1, Home Runs – 1, Runs Batted In – 19, Runs Scored – 20); Starting Pitcher – Aiden Zimmerman, Johnsonburg; Starting Pitcher – Jake Sikora, Punxsutawney; Relief Pitcher – Derek Smail, Clarion (Win-Loss – 2-1, Saves – 2 [one coming in the State Semifinal and the other in the State Championship Game], Innings Pitched – 29, Earned Run Average – 0.50, Strikeouts – 38, Bases On Balls – 23, also on offense, Batting Average – .379, OPS [On-Base Percentage Plus Slugging] – 1.154, Doubles – 4, Triples – 1, Home Runs – 4, Runs Batted In – 19, Runs Scored – 20).

2023 YDL Sports Network/D9and10Sports.com All-District 9 Second Team Baseball

Catcher – Keagan  Book, Moniteau; First Base – Noah Farrell, DuBois;Second Base – Kaden Dennis, Johnsonburg; Shortstop – Bretton McDowell, Smethport; Third Base – Blake Pisarcik, DuBois Central Catholic; Outfield – Bryce Brinkley, Clarion Batting Average – .404, OPS [on-base percentage plus slugging] – .908,  Triples – 1,  Home Runs – 4, Runs Batted In – 10, Runs Scored – 19, Stolen Bases – 17); Outfield – Jordan Hesdon, Clarion-Limestone; Outfield – Luke Zimmerman, Johnsonburg; Designated Hitter – Cal Minich, Otto-Eldred; Utility Player – Breckin Minich, Redbank Valley; Utility Player Max Splain, Otto-Eldred; Utility Player – Lucas Bauer, St. Marys; Starting Pitcher – Austin Shoup, Cranberry; Starting Pitcher – Drew Evens, Port Allegany; Starting Pitcher – Ty Carrier, Redbank Valley;  Relief Pitcher – Tyler Chamberlin, DuBois.