Clarion Downs North Clarion For Second Time (05/20/2018)
Cam Craig went the distance to get his fifth win of the season.
(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub) The Clarion Bobcats won the penultimate game of the 2018 regular season, downing the North Clarion Wolves in Frills Corners on Wednesday, May 16. It was the second time the Bobcats had downed the Wolves in a week.
As has been their wont during the month of May, the Bobcats got on the board before their opponent; this time plating a run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Lead-off batter Spencer Miller walked, swiping second and then advancing to third on a wild pitch during Sterling Conner’s at bat. Conner proceeded to line a one out double to right field, driving in Miller.
Cam Craig, Clarion’s starter, set North Clarion down in order in the bottom half of the first. Cal German, playing second, made an excellent play to record the final out of the inning, dropping to his knee and backhanding a grounder in the dirt before throwing to first.
Nate Datko singled and drove in a run.
The score remained 1-0 until the third, when Clarion added two runs to its lead. Miller stroked a hard single to left and took second on a wild pitch when Conner was at the plate. Conner eventually received a one out walk. Another wild pitch saw Miller take third, with Conner moving second two pitches later owing to catcher indifference. Nate Datko drove in Miller with a two out single to the left side, a rap that also saw Conner score when the first baseman dropped the throw from third.
North Clarion cut into Clarion’s lead during the bottom of the third when their lead-off man walked and eventually came around to score, making it 3-1.
Cal German tags out a North Clarion runner on a steal attempt in the third inning.
The Bobcats’ offense would keep the pressure on in the fourth, plating a pair of runs, both coming with two outs. German got things rolling with a liner to right, taking third when Miller followed with a single to center. Miller scooted to second on the play as the center fielder tried to throw out German going to third. Craig then doubled, driving in both German and Miller to put Clarion up 5-1.
Clarion would be retired in order in each of the final three innings, while North Clarion scored two runs in the sixth to the set the final at 5-3.
Miller had two hits, both singles, and scored three of the Bobcats’ five runs. Conner doubled, while Craig, Conner, Datko, and German each singled. Craig led the way with two RBI. Conner and Datko were each credited with one apiece.
Craig went the distance on the mound, earning his team leading fifth win of the season. He struck out two.
(photographs by Christie Datko)