PUNXSUTAWNEY – Stymied for the second time this season by Punxsutawney junior Angie Burke, the Clearfield Area High School softball team dropped a 3-2 squeaker at Harry Noerr Field Wednesday afternoon.
Burke pitched a five-hitter with seven strikeouts in outdueling Mandy Rowles, who allowed six hits.
\”It was a good game, but we didn\’t hit like I thought we would,\” Lady Bison coach Bob Dixon said. \”And a couple mental mistakes cost us.
\”Burke doesn\’t throw hard, but she moved the ball around and didn\’t walk anybody. We only hit two balls hard.\”
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning.
Clearfield (11-5) got the upper hand when Megan Butler looped a single to right center, advanced to third on Ashley Lias\’ sacrifice and Rowles\’ single and scored on a wild pitch.
Punxsutawney (12-6) answered with two runs on a walk and back-to-back, gap-shot doubles by Allie Miller and Tina Elgin.
The District 9 Class AAA rivals matched runs again in the sixth.
Alanna Luzier singled, Butler sacrificed and Rowles sliced a two-out double down the right field line to tie the score.
For the Lady Chucks, Amber Lellock lined a single to left for the game-winning hit after Sara Ruehle had doubled to right center and moved to third on the lone error of the game.
Lellock, a sophomore, drove in two runs when Punxsy spoiled Clearfield\’s home opener 5-1 on April 8.
Burke hurled a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts in that meeting.
The No. 1-seeded and defending champin Lady Bisons may have to contend with the Lady Chucks again in the 9-AAA finals. A Punxsy win over No. 2 seed Bradford would set up the third consecutive title game between the two teams.
Clearfield ends the regular season with home games against once-beaten DuBois Thursday at 4 p.m. and State College Friday at 4:15.
CLEARFIELD — 2
Alanna Luzier 2b 3110, Megan Butler 3b 2110, Ashley Lias ss 2000, Mandy Rowles p 3021, Julie Colesar 1b 3000, Alyssa Anderson cf 3000, Kenzie McGovern c 3010, Suzie Colesar rf 2000, Carrie Harbold dp 2000, Sarah Kovalick (flex) lf 0000. TOTALS: 23 2 5 1.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — 3
Angie Burke p 3000, Kelsey McFarland 2b 2100, Allie Miller cf 3110, Tina Elgin 1b 3012, Sara Ruehle c 3120, Amber Lellock rf 3011, Angie Laska ss 2010, Kelsey Cook dp 2000, Megan Kauffman lf 2000, Sarah Depp (flex) 3b 0000. TOTALS: 23 3 6 3.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 000 101 0 – 2 5 1
Punxsutawney 000 201 x – 3 6 0
Error – Anderson. LOB – Clearfield 3; Punxsutawney 5. 2B – Rowles; Elgin, Ruehle. Sac – Butler, Lias, S. Colesar.
Pitching
Clearfield – Rowles 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
Punxsutawney – Burke 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K.
HB – Burke 1 (Harbold). WP – Burke 1.
W – Burke (5-4). L – Rowles (11-5).
