STORMSTOWN – Derek Hryn and winning pitcher Matt Kushner had the big hits and Seth Ford earned the save as the Clearfield Little League 10-and-11 All-Stars squeezed past homestanding Tri-County 4-3 in the District 5 Tournament elimination bracket semifinal at Half Moon Township Field Monday evening.
Clearfield, sporting three wins in four games, advances to the elimination bracket final Wednesday at State College American, which was beaten 6-4 by State College National Monday.
Tri-County took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Clearfield went ahead 2-1 when Kushner walked, Christian Lezzer doubled and, with two outs, Hryn doubled down the left field line for two runs batted in.
Kushner drove in the other two Clearfield runs in the third with a two-out single after a single by Corey Root and a walk to Mike Beck.
Lezzer had a pair of doubles for manager Chuck Robison\’s team.
Kushner reached the pitch-count limit with one out in the fifth inning after striking out seven and walking three. He gave up six hits and two runs.
Ford relieved and fanned three in 1-2/3 innings. He allowed two hits, one walk and one run. In the sixth inning, he got the final two outs with the tying run at second base to preserve the win.
Score by Innings:
Tri-County 100 110 – 3 8
Clearfield 202 00x – 4 7
