“This Season Was Absolutely Successful.” (Clarion Head Coach Rob Jewett) Bobcats Finish Season With PIAA Class-1A State Baseball Semifinal Loss To Eden Christian Academy

Photo submitted – Bobcat Senior Day (Thursday, May 1st) From left to right, it’s Matt Alston with parents Denny and Emily, Noah Harrison with parents Eric, Yvette, Jen and Rich and his brother Nash, and Derek Smail with parents Jami and David. Aaron Renninger is also a senior, but was not able to be at the game. He is the son of Jackie and Daniel Renninger.

If this article’s headline seems like a dichotomy, and using a photo from Senior Day that took place over a month ago, for a season ending article, bear with me. There is a reason to my madness and it will become very clear by the time you finish this article.

Let me explain. If I could list the coaches who have given me great quotes throughout the years, Clarion Area head Coach Rob Jewett is right there. He has given me some of the finest, heartfelt quotes for forever.

But this time Coach Jewett has sent me (and I’m not real big on sports cliches) “One For The Ages.”

I didn’t ask Rob (we’ve been on a first name basis since we used to work out together in the Clarion Area weight/fitness center, as he finished coaching for the evening and I concluded my work with Brad Wagner helping the lifters over twenty-years ago now) if he teared up as he wrote. But I can’t imagine he didn’t.

If ever a coach poured his heart, his soul, his being into expressing what really is important in sports and his thankfulness, love relationship between the members of the team, the players and coaches hard work and dedication, his thanks to individuals throughout the community, the school district, parents and boosters, this is that time.

I would suggest that you just skim my summary of the Bobcats last game for the season and go to Rob’s quote at the bottom. Heck, I wouldn’t be offended if you skipped my summary completely; “the important stuff is the important stuff.”

I would suggest that Clarion Area School District make some copies of Coach Jewett’s words and put them in a nice presentation folder and display it in the trophy case and make presentation folders for each of the players and coaches.

Game Summary:

The Clarion Area Bobcats Fell to the Eden Christian Academy Warriors 12-1, in their Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class-1A State Baseball Semifinal at Slippery Rock’s Jack Critchfield Park.

With the loss the Bobcats fine season comes to an end at 16-7. This young team (six freshmen, five sophomores, five juniors and four seniors) blended well as the season progressed and far exceeded expectations at the beginning of the year.

The Cats were the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference (KSAC) Class-1A Champion and the District Nine Class-1A Runner-up. They went three rounds in the PIAA State Tournament, defeating Serra Catholic in the opening round and Greensburg Central Catholic in the quarterfinals, befor falling to Eden Christian Academy in the semifinals. All three were District 7 (WPIAL) schools.

The Bobcats were the home team in this game.

Both teams were scoreless through two innings. The Warriors scored four in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth for a 7-0 lead. The Bobcats cut the lead to 7-1 with a run in the sixth, but the Warriors set the final with five runs in the seventh.

Hayden Weber had two of the Bobcats hits, including a double in the sixth, and scored Clarion’s run. He also had a stolen base. Parker Miller had Clarion’s other hit.

This was the final game for Derek Smail, Matt Alston, Aaron Renninger and Noah Harrison.

(Fine Season, Bobcats!!!!)

So proud of what this team was able to accomplish this season. Expectations were different this year with losing so many key players from last year. I’m so happy they proved everyone wrong! We had some growing pains in the beginning of the season, but once they started to play together and feed off each other they were amazing! Pitching really came around, defense got better, we ran the bases well and clutched up hitting. This team never quit and opposing teams could never count them out of any game! We had a really tough schedule this year which I think helped prepare them for playoffs. We saw some really good pitching and potent offenses. They knew they could hang with anyone.  

My coaching staff was awesome this year. Lee Weber, Andrew Waugaman, Rick Miller, Mike Brown, Dillon Wolbert, and Adrian Weber were a vital part in shaping these fine young men into great baseball players. We preached a team mentality, and that starts with the coaching staff. From fundamentals, defense, plate approach, base running, pickoffs, pitching, the mental game and mental toughness…they did it all! So proud of what they got out of these players and how they helped the team get to where we got. Could not have done it without them. Very grateful and blessed to have them and the time and effort they gave!

Steve Seifert, our athletic trainer, and Nancy Mills, our AD, really earned their paychecks this season! Steve was some kind of voodoo doctor! We had a lot of nagging injuries that he was able to help with and get the boys ready to play. He worked tirelessly with the pitchers to keep them fresh every day. We honestly could not have gone as far as we did without him! This was not the sunniest season and a lot of rescheduling was needed. Nancy did a tremendous job getting as many games rescheduled as possible. She worked very hard to make sure we played and I am grateful to her for that. It was not easy!

We had a ton of support from our administration and teachers. We had to miss quite a bit of classes due to rescheduled games and everyone was very supportive of it. The players did a great job keeping up with school work, but that was also possible because of the teachers. 

Our boosters and parents have always been such a wonderful support system. They worked really hard to make sure this team was taken care of. They provided countless snacks and meals for so many away games we played throughout the season. There were so many in attendance all season to show their support and love for our boys, along with other community members, past players, and students.  It definitely did not go unnoticed and the players fed off that energy!

While our last game did not go the way we had hoped, the season was absolutely successful. This could not have been possible without our senior leadership. Noah Harrison, Matt Alston, Derek Smail, and Aaron Renninger were on the team for the past 4 years and State Champions on the 2023 team. Their experience and baseball knowledge has allowed them to successfully lead this team to the state semi-finals. I thoroughly enjoyed coaching them, however, in the end it is them that has made me a better coach! They will be sorely missed!!

This team was special. Their hard working, no quit attitude on and off season should be celebrated. Their resilience and grit is something that no one can take away from them. GO BOBCATS!!!!