Bobcats Down Cardinals For Second Consecutive District Nine – Class 1A Baseball Crown: Will Play Bishop Carroll In PIAA First Round

on 29 May, 2024 at 17:43

Photos by Brinley Kiskadden-BK Photographs – Above: 2024 District Nine Class 1A Champion Clarion Bobcats (front: left to right) Assistant Coach Andrew Waugaman, Eli Rudesyle, Gabe Anderson, Hayden Weber, Noah Harrison, Dawson Smail, Billy Kahle, Wyatt Watterson, and Aaron Renninger and Assistant Coach Jon King. (back: left to right) Head Coach Rob Jewett, Drew Martz, Dylan Smail, Nathan Frederick, Parker Miller, Tanner Miller, Derek Smail, Bryce Brinkley, Ethan Rex, Matt Alston, Dauntae Girvan, Assistant Coach Adrian Weber, Assistant Coach Lee Weber and Trainer Steve Seifert.

The Clarion Area Bobcats downed the DuBois Central Catholic Cardinals 10-1, in the 2024 District Nine – Class 1A Baseball championship game, at Showers Field in DuBois on Tuesday, May 28th, claiming their second consecutive crown.

The Cats also defeated the Cardinals for last year’s district championship, as well as the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championship.

The Bobcats used a combination of solid pitching, hitting and defense to secure the victory.

**District Nine Baseball Chairperson, Dave Osborne presents the Championship plaque to Team Captains Dawson Smail and Noah Harrison (Team Captain Derek Smail not shown)**

Three Bobcats saw action on the mound. Winning pitcher Devon Lauer went four innings, allowing just one run on two hits, striking out four and walking a pair. Tanner Miller went one inning, striking out two batters and allowing a hit. Derek Smail also worked an inning, striking out two.

Clarion had five players register hits, four for extra bases. Five players had RBIs and eight players scored runs.

The Bobcats committed only one error in the contest.

The Cardinals opened by scoring their run in the top of the first. The Cats answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, two more in the third and seven in the sixth.

**Bobcat seniors (from left): Dawson Smail, Eli Rudesyle, Dauntae Girvan, Devon Lauer, Bryce Brinkley and Tanner Miller, along with with Coach Jewett display the Championship plaque**

Dawson Smail had a big day for Clarion, with three hits including a triple, three runs scored and three RBIs. Matt Alston had a pair of doubles and drove in two runners. Noah Harrison singled, doubled and drove in one run.

Lauer singled, had an RBI and scored once. Hayden Weber had a single and scored. Derek Smail, Nathan Frederick, Dylan Smail and Ethan Rex each scored a run.

The Bobcats will play the District 6 Runner-up Bishop Carroll Huskies, in the first round of the PIAA State playoffs. They fell to the Bishop McCourt Crushers 11-7, in their championship contest on Wednesday, May 29th. DCC will play the Crushers in the first round. Details not available at time of posting.

(Congratulations Bobcats!!!! Thanks to Brinley Kiskadden-BK Photographs for her photos!!)