ALTOONA – The Clearfield fall baseball team\’s inability to protect leads has been the story of the 2008 season thus far, and two more losses were added to the record Sunday afternoon when Altoona staged sixth-inning rallies for a 10-9 and 5-3 sweep at the Juniata Field.
Manager Sid Lansberry\’s club, which tumbled to a very deceiving 1-8, has been in front at some point in every game, including the fifth inning or later in the last five setbacks.
In the opener, Clearfield took a 9-8 lead in the top of the sixth with a run after Robert Lombardo had tied the score with a two-out grand slam home run, but Altoona came right back with two runs.
Tanner St. Clair cracked two doubles and a single, good for three runs batted in, as Clearfield out-hit the hosts 12-9. Justin Hoffman, who doubled, and Luke Peterson added two hits apiece. Kyle Timchak also had a double.
Will Snyder led the winners with a double, single and three RBIs.
After pitching one inning and suffering the loss in the first game, Aaron Sayers turned in four good innings before being relieved in the nightcap.
Clearfield snapped a 1-1 tie with two runs in the fifth, only to have Altoona counter with four in the sixth.
The visitors were limited to four hits, including a double by St. Clair.
Saturday\’s home game with Philipsburg was rained out and rescheduled for Sunday , Oct. 19.
Clearfield will play single games at DuBois Thursday and Brookville Saturday and then entertain St. Marys in a 1 p.m. twinbill Sunday at the Lawrence Township Recreational Park Field.
Clearfield 000 405 0 – 9 12 8
Altoona 032 302 x – 10 9 3
W – Scott Lytle. L – Aaron Sayers (0-3).
* * * * *
Clearfield 010 020 0 – 3 4 3
Altoona 010 004 x – 5 8 1
W – Josh Adams. L – Kyle Timchak (0-2).
