ST. MARYS – A quality start by sophomore Trevor Flanagan, a nail-biting save by Parker Herrington, and big hits by Tanner St. Clair and Kyle Timchak kept the Clearfield Area High School baseball team on a roll Wednesday afternoon.
St. Clair\’s two-run homer in the third inning and Timchak\’s three-run double in the fifth provided all the offense the Bisons needed to get past St. Marys 5-3 for their fifth win in a row.
That\’s because Flanagan, making only his second start, kept the veteran Flying Dutch lineup in check except for Brett Quiggle, who pounded two home runs over the fence in right field, and Herrington pitched in and out of trouble in the last two innings.
Flanagan allowed only five hits in his five-inning stint, striking out five and walking one.
\”He did a great job against a good, strong lineup,\” Bison coach Sid Lansberry said. \”I\’m really pleased with him.\”
Herrington closed out the District 9 Northern Allegany League Big School Division and Central Penn League game with what can only by characterized as an unbelievable save.
The senior right-hander walked five batters, hit one, gave up two hits, balked two runners into scoring position and, yet, kept the Flying Dutch off the scoreboard.
Lansberry noted Herrington logged 52 pitches in his two frames after Flanagan threw 67 through five.
\”He just pitches from behind, but he\’s a cool customer,\” Lansberry said. \”He doesn\’t get rattled. He just keeps throwing.\”
Quiggle was the first batter Herrington faced in the sixth, and he hit the standout catcher on the foot. But, he immediately picked him off for what loomed as a huge out when Josh Schlimm and Mitchell Straub followed with hits and Derek Meyer walked to load the bases.
St. Clair, who had moved from left field to third base because of the pitching change, knocked down Jon Petrocchi\’s hard shot and turned it into a forceout at home. An infield pop-up ended the threat.
In the seventh, Herrington struck out the side, but not before issuing three walks. He ended the game with a strikeout on a 3-2 count.
\”He\’s giving me gray hairs,\” Lansberry said. \”But he\’s a competitor, and his ball moves.
\”That\’s two saves and a win for him. And he only pitched to one batter before the DuBois game last week.\”
St. Clair\’s home run to right field drove in Jarrin Campman, who had singled, for a 2-1 Clearfield lead in the third inning.
A single by Dillon Kline and Quiggle\’s second circuit blow gave Jon Meyer a 3-2 working margin in the fourth, but the Bisons answered right away.
St. Clair led off the fifth with a booming double to deep center.
One out later, Justin Hoffman and Aaron Sayers drew free passes to fill the sacks for Timchak, and the senior designated hitter promptly unloaded them with his double to deep right center.
\”Kyle has had some really good at-bats since becoming our DH,\” Lansberry said. \”That definitely was his biggest hit of the year. And a big hit for us.\”
Hoffman had the other two hits for the Bisons, who cling to an outside shot at the first D9NAL title at 4-2.
The win, Clearfield\’s first in six CPL games, sets the season ledger at 7-5.
St. Marys, a pre-season favorite for D9NAL and District 9 Class AAA laurels, dipped to 3-4 in the D9NAL, 1-5 in the CPL and 7-7 overall.
\”They\’ll still be a dangerous team in the playoffs,\” Lansberry cautioned. \”They\’re right there with Punxsutawney.\”
The Bisons will be at home for a very important D9NAL make-up game against Punxsy (9-4) Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
District 9 Northern Allegany League Big School Division Standings – DuBois 7-2, Punxsutawney 6-2, Clearfield 4-2, St. Marys 3-4, Brookville 2-7, Bradford 1-6.
CLEARFIELD — 5
Jarrin Campman 2b 4110, Parker Herrington ss-p 4000, Tanner St. Clair lf-3b 3222, Corey Bookhamer 1b 4000, Justin Hoffman rf 3120, Aaron Sayers cf 3100, Derek Danver 3b-ss 2000, Trevor Flanagan p 0000, Chad Zurat lf 0000, Kyle Timchak dh 3013, Matt Lonjin c 2000, Andrew Redden ph 1000. TOTALS: 29 5 6 5.
ST. MARYS — 3
Ryan Quinn cf 3010, Dillon Kline 2b 4110, Brett Quiggle c 2223, Josh Schimm 3b 3010, Mitchell Straub lf 3010, Jon Meyer p 0000, Dave Sheeley p 0000, Shealin Mulcahy p 0000, Derek Meyer dh 2000, Jon Petrocchi 1b 3000, Jordan Weinzerl ss 3000, Luke Nicklas rf 3010. TOTALS: 26 3 7 3.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 002 030 0 – 5 6 0
St. Marys 100 200 0 – 3 7 2
Errors – J. Meyer, Weinzerl. LOB – Clearfield 6; St. Marys 5. 2B – St. Clair, Timchak. HR – St. Clair (1); Quiggle 2. Sac – Timchak. SB – Campman, Hoffman.
Pitching
Clearfield – T. Flanagan 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K; Herrington 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 3 K.
St. Marys – J. Meyer 4-2/3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 7 K; Sheeley 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K; Mulcahy 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 BB.
HB – Herrington 1 (Quiggle); J. Meyer 1 (St. Clair). Balk – Herrington 1.
W – T. Flanagan (2-0). L – J. Meyer (1-3). Save – Herrington (2).
