WESTMONT – Michael Moyer hurled a three-hitter and Clearfield scored four runs with two outs to down once-beaten Westmont-Hilltop 6-3 in scholastic baseball action Saturday.
The non-league win halted a four-game losing streak for the Bisons.
Moyer struck out nine Hilltoppers, walked three and hit one in a route-going performance that netted his second victory in five decisions.
Only one of the runs off the senior right-hander was earned.
\”Moyer pitched a good game against a pretty good lineup,\” Bison coach Sid Lansberry said. \”That was his best effort of the year.\”
The game was scoreless until Derek Danver led off the fourth inning with Clearfield\’s first home run of the season, a long drive to center field.
\”He got us going,\” said Lansberry. \”Then we got some clutch hits from the top of the lineup.\”
In the fifth, Clearfield (2-4) touched up Ben Legach for four runs, the first one on a bases-loaded walk to pinch-hitter Kyle Timchak.
With two outs, leadoff batter Jarrin Campman singled through the left side for two runs and Parker Herrington followed with a hit for an RBI.
Westmont-Hilltop (5-2) sandwiched two of its hits between two Bison errors for all of its runs in the bottom of the inning. A two-run double by T.J. Keklak was the big blow.
The Bisons tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with No. 3 hitter Justin Hoffman cracking a two-out, two-strike safety for the third game in a row. The previous two knocked in tying runs in the seventh.
Hoffman\’s single plated courtesy runner Chad Zurat, who replaced Matt Lonjin after the Bison catcher singled and moved up on a sacrifice bunt.
Clearfield solved Legach and reliever Matt Ziance for a season-high 12 hits.
\”Every spot in the order had at least one hit, and that\’s a good sign,\” Lansberry said.
Hoffman, Sayers and Danver had two hits apiece.
Clearfield returns to Central Penn League action Monday at Williamsport.
On Wednesday, the Bisons will try, for the third time, to play their home opener, with Brookville the opponent.
CLEARFIELD — 6
Jarrin Campman 2b 4012, Parker Herrington ss 4011, Justin Hoffman rf 5021, Tanner St. Clair lf 4110, Aaron Sayers cf 4120, Corey Bookhamer 1b 3110, Derek Danver 3b 4121, Michael Moyer p 0000, Isaac Butler dh 2010, Kyle Timchak dh 1101, Matt Lonjin c 3110, Wil Beauseigneur ph 1000. TOTALS: 35 3 12 6.
WESTMONT-HILLTOP — 3
T.J. Keklak ss 3122, Ben Legach p-3b 4000, David McKolosky cf 4001, Mike Valchaff 1b 3000, Matt Ziance c-p 2000, John Valchaff rf 2000, John McClain lf 3000, Dan Price 3b 1000, Casey Eckenrode c 2100, Andy Pozun 2b 2110. TOTALS: 26 3 3 3.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 000 140 1 – 6 12 3
Westmont-Hilltop 000 030 0 – 3 3 4
Errors – Campman 2, Herrington; Keklak 2, Legach, Price. DP – Clearfield 1 (Herrington and Bookhamer). LOB – Clearfield 12; Westmont Hilltop 6. 2B – Keklak. HR – Danver (1). Sac – Campman, Bookhamer. SB – Campman; Herrington.
Pitching
Clearfield – Moyer 7 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K.
Westmont-Hilltop – Legach 4-2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 9 K; Ziance 2-2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
HB – Moyer 1 (Pozun); Legach 1 (Lonjin).
W – Moyer (2-3). L – Legach.
