VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Too many strikeouts and too many runners left on base spelled defeat for the Clearfield Area High School baseball team on the final day of its annual spring trip Saturday.
Host Bishop Sullivan Catholic (3-2) spoiled the Bisons’ season opener 6-2 as John Leidig and Steve Swoope combined to fan 13, catching Bisons looking at the third strike on 10 occasions.
Clearfield solved the two Crusaders for eight hits, all singles, while five Bisons received walks and another was hit by a pitch.
However, coach Sid Lansberry’s team stranded 12 runners, six of them in scoring position.
Justin Hoffman and Andrew Redden had two hits apiece for the Bisons, who averted a shutout in the seventh inning.
Singles by Jarrett Fulmer, Justyn Knepp and Justin Hoffman produced the first run. Redden drove in Knepp with his second hit, but the Bisons left the sacks full for the second time in three innings.
“We had our chances,” Lansberry said. “We just didn’t generate enough offense.”
The longtime coach was satisfied with the work of starter Trevor Flanagan and relievers Tyler Jacobson and Chad Zurat.
They surrendered only five hits, with Flanagan taking the loss. The junior righthander pitched into the fourth inning, walking four and giving up two hits and four runs, one of them unearned.
Jacobson hit one batter and allowed two hits and two runs, one unearned, and Zurat pitched a scoreless sixth.
Clearfield will open the home slate against defending Central Penn League champion State College Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. at the Bison Sports Complex.
CLEARFIELD — 2
Jarrett Fulmer 2b 2110, Tyler Jacobson 3b-p 3000; Justyn Knepp lf 1110; Justin Hoffman rf 3021; Derek Danver ss 4000; Andrew Redden 1b 4021; Matt Lonjin c 3000; Shane Harper lf-cf 0000; Isaac Butler dh 3010; Chad Zurat cf-p 3010; Wil Beauseigneur ph 1000; Trevor Flanagan p-3b 1000; Garrett Samsel ph 0000; Luke Peterson 3b 1000. TOTALS: 29 2 8 2.
BISHOP SULLIVAN — 6
John Leidig p-3b 3101; Steve Swoope 3b-p 3011; Josh Mason ss 3011; Brandon Valentine c 3010; Jeff Swoope cf 3100; Connor Collins 2b 2100; Mancuso 2b 0000; James Duvall rf 3110; Gardenhire rf 0000; Ollie Allen 1b 2000; Kyle Miller lf 2211. TOTALS: 24 6 5 4.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 000 000 2 – 2 8 4
Bishop Sullivan 011 400 x – 6 5 1
Errors – Fulmer, Danver, Zurat, Peterson; Miller. DP – Clearfield 1 (Jacobson, Fulmer and Redden). LOB – Clearfield 12; Bishop Sullivan 5. 2B – Mason, Valentine. SB – Miller. CS – S. Swoope (by Flanagan).
Pitching
Clearfield – Flanagan 3-2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 K; Jacobson 1-2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K; Zurat 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
Bishop Sullivan – Leidig 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; S. Swoope 3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.
HB – Jacobson 1 (Leidig); Leidig 1 (Fulmer). Save – S. Swoope.
W – Leidig. L – Flanagan (0-1).
