Clarion Area Bobcat Baseball Honors Seniors And Their Parents On Program’s Last Senior Night
Photos courtesy of Katie Kiehl -Bobcat Seniors with their parents Melissa, Gabe, Michael Anderson, Matt, Wyatt, Debb Watterson, Lee, Haden, Krista Weber
The Clarion Area Bobcat Baseball Team honored their Seniors and their parents on their last ever Senior Night, prior to their game with St. Marys, on Tuesday May 12th at Clarion County Park. The Bobcats and Clarion-Limestone Lions will co-op as the Central Clarion Wildcats beginning next season.
Bobcat Head Coach Rob Jewett shared, “The last year of Clarion Bobcat baseball will see three amazing players’ careers come to an end. These three seniors, Gabe Anderson, Wyatt Watterson, and Hayden Weber, are the remaining players from the 2023 State Championship team.
Coach Jewett had this to say about Gabe, “Gabe has played baseball all four years of high school. He did not see much varsity time till his junior year when I moved him from catcher and third base to right field. This was a brand new position for him, but I credit his work ethic in practice to improve his outfielding skills.
“He did an amazing job for us and was a huge part of our run to the state semi game. His senior year I moved his position again, this time to first base, another brand new position for him. This was a much bigger ask, as first base sees a ton of action. I give him even more credit to his work ethic, as he excelled greatly throughout the season.
“He won our most improved award and had the highest fielding percentage, which is very impressive since he was involved in so many plays.
“Gabe is a great young man who would do anything to help the team. He put in a ton of work during the season and during the offseason, which clearly showed in his baseball growth each year. Gabe was one of the team captains this year. He played the game with a smile and was always bringing his teammates up.
“Gabe will attend Colorado State University next fall to major in business administration with a concentration in finance.
“I will surely miss Gabe, his light heartedness and free spirit, will be very hard to replace.”
Gabe Anderson Bio
“Baseball has given me so many great memories. One of my favorite memories is winning the State Championship in 2023 and another is sitting in the back of the bus during my junior year with Derek, Noah, and Matt, playing slap wars and having great conversations.
“My time in high school has given me opportunities for athletics, leadership and the arts. I lettered in golf and baseball for two years, was a two-time district champion in football and baseball, and a one-time district champion in golf. Outside athletics, I served as President of my senior class and Youth Council, and as treasurer of Student Council. I also participated in yearbook, choir, and musical and play productions.
“I would like to thank my parents for always supporting me in everything I do. Thank you to my baseball coaches — Coach Jewett, Coach Weber, Coach Waugaman, Coach Miller, Coach Brown, Coach Adrian, and Coach Wolbert — for pushing me to improve and for believing in me.
“I’m also thankful to Eric Harrison and Rick Miller for opening the Garage so we could hit every weekend in the winter, and to my teammates for their support over the years.
“I plan to attend Colorado State University to major in business administration with a concentration in finance. After college, I plan to become a financial advisor and start my own business.”
Coach Jewett shared this about Wyatt, “Wyatt also played baseball all four years of high school. He was primarily a pinch runner his freshman year and played a big role on the bases during our championship run. His sophomore year he split time in right field and did an amazing job.
“His junior year he started in center field and found his home. Wyatt has exceptional instincts and gets to balls I thought for sure would be hits. I love how much pride he takes in patrolling the outfield not letting anything get by him.
“He is such a good outfielder that when he hurt his throwing shoulder his junior year, we didn’t take him out of the field, instead told the left and right fielders to run to Wyatt when he catches a ball to throw it in for him. He was too good to not have on the field!
“He was even better his senior year making highlight catches every game. He works very hard at practice and is very hard on himself trying to be the best version of himself. He had his best year at the plate this year. He worked very hard at his approach, pitch selection, and his swing and it paid off.
“Wyatt was a team captain this year and did an amazing job keeping all players accountable, excited, loose, focused, and having fun. Wyatt was voted team MVP for all his efforts on the field and for his leadership of his teammates. He also won the gold glove award for his outfield play.
“Wyatt will attend IUP next fall to major in political science and homeland security in hopes to someday work for the CIA.
“I will definitely miss Wyatt’s passion for the outfield and the game of baseball, his work ethic, and his quirky sense of humor. He will leave some really big shoes to fill in centerfield.
Wyatt Watterson Bio
“My favorite memory : hands down , Winning the state championship in 2023.
“I would like to thank all the coaches teammates, and all the people that supported me and believed in me throughout my baseball career.
“It has been the ride of my life thus far.
“My future plans include attending IUP in the fall, majoring in political science and minoring in homeland security, with hopes to be a CIA agent one day.”
Wyatt’s 2026 Bobcat Team Awards: The Most Doubles Award, The Most Triples Award, Highest Fielding Percentage Award, Hit By The Most Pitches Award, Golden Glove Award, MVP Award
Coach Jewett mentioned this about Hayden, “Hayden also played baseball all four years of high school. He was put in a very unique situation having to be the starting catcher as a freshman on a team that won the state championship. I was amazed at how he handled himself and how quickly he had to mature into this significant role.
“He only got better and better each year. He worked really hard at catcher with his dad, Lee Weber, and it showed. He receives the ball really well from many different types of pitchers. He blocks with the best of them. He really improved handling base runners, and this was his best year, throwing out most runners.
“He continuously works on his hitting all year with his dad and at the garage. He had his best year at the plate this year. He improved his pitch selection, his contact, his ability to hit to all parts of the field, and added more power.
“He is a very smart, fast, and aggressive base runner, not your typical catcher.
“Hayden and I have been working tremendously together for 4 years calling pitches. He has a great instinct to what the hitters are doing, and if I call a pitch that he does not like, he will just look at me and shake his head NO. I loved it! He was always right too. He is a very smart catcher and is very hard on himself trying to be very technically correct and always trying to improve.
“Hayden was also a team captain. He has a great attitude when he is playing, has a smile and is always upbeat no matter what the game is like.
“Hayden won the coaches award this year for his coachability, the way he plays the game, the way he treats his teammates, and his work ethic. He also won a gold glove award for his catching. Hayden is looking at attending LA Harbor College in California to continue playing baseball and major in fashion, but he is unsure at this time if that will happen.
“I will miss Hayden a lot since we have worked together calling games for the past 4 years. I will miss Hayden’s kindness, work ethic, humor, and insights. He too will leave ginormous shoes to fill behind the plate.”
Hayden Weber Bio
Favorite Bobcat Baseball Memory: “I was the starting catcher for the 2023 State Championship Team! Hitting a grand slam to help beat St. Marys my sophomore year! Throwing out base runners!
“Wyatt and I were the only 2 varsity players in Bobcat history to qualify for the State tournament in all 4 high school years.
Sports and Academic Awards earned: Lettered in all 4 years for baseball and cross country. 2x District Champion in baseball and cross country. KSAC Conference and District 9 teams, 3x State qualifier in cross country. National Honor Society, Book Club, Choir, Yearbook, Musical and Play productions.
“I would like to thank Coach Jewett, Weber, Weber, Waugaman, Miller, Brown, and Wolbert for their hard work and commitment! I would like to thank my parents for their strong support and faithful encouragement throughout the years!
“And a big thank you to all my teammates for making winning fun!
“I am planning on pursuing my baseball career by attending an undecided college (in California, Arizona, or East Coast) and majoring in Business focusing in the fashion industry.”
Some final words about the trio from Coach Jewett, “I have spent a lot of time with these three seniors over the past four years. I have seen them grow from freshman eager to do anything to get on the field to captains doing everything they can to get the team to play as long as possible in our season.
“They have fielded a ton of groundballs and flyballs. They have thrown or caught a ton of pitches. They have hit a tremendous amount of really bad practice baseballs that they always complain about. They have run a lot of bases. They sweat, bled, cried, yelled, sworn (which they would do pushups for…team rule), laughed, cheered, reflected, and smiled for the game of baseball for the Clarion Bobcats.
“I have asked a ton of them and I have demanded even more. I had really high expectations and standards and they met and exceeded them all. But most importantly, I enjoyed every moment with these three men on and off the baseball field the past four years laughing, seeing success and failure, growth and maturity, and taking me and our coaching staff for one heck of a ride.
“Thank you gentlemen!! I appreciate everything you have given me the past four years, but I really appreciate who you’ve become.
“Stay true to yourselves and don’t be strangers!”
(Great Careers, Hayden, Gabe and Wyatt!!!! Thanks to Katie Kiehl for her wonderful photos!!)