ALTOONA – After flirting with victory at Hollidaysburg Wednesday, only to lose in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Clearfield Area High School softball team returned to Blair County Friday and tasted success for the first time this season.
The Lady Bisons backed another quality start by freshman pitcher Heather Picard, who was one out away from a shutout, with 10 hits and near-flawless defense to pin an 8-4 loss on Altoona in Central Penn League action at the Logan Elementary School Field.
Clearfield was able to cope with miserable conditions – low temperatures, rain and even some snow showers – to snap its three-game losing streak.
“It was freezing,” coach Bob Dixon said, “But we played real well the whole game.
“We hit real well, we didn’t give them any extra outs except for one in the last inning and Heather threw a pretty good game.
“This is a good group of kids, and I hope this will get things rolling, get them some confidence.”
Two Lady Bisons who came away feeling much better about themselves were sophomores Mia Keener and Makenzie Moore.
The No. 7 and No. 8 batters combined for five hits and four runs batted in.
Hitless in her first nine at-bats this season, Keener broke out with a trio of singles and had two RBIs.
“She struggled the first two games and got down on herself,” Dixon said. “Wednesday, she hit the ball well and didn’t get a hit. Tonight, she hit the ball hard and got three good hits.”
A night after the coaches worked with her to correct a flaw in her swing, Moore responded with two singles and two RBIs.
“She always had a habit of swinging too soon and hitting off her front foot with just her wrists,” Dixon explained. “It was something we finally picked up, and we told her to wait a bit. It was like night and day. It was just amazing how much better she hit the ball.
“I was really happy for her, because she really wants to produce.”
They chased home Clearfield’s four runs, but early on, clean-up batter Suzie Colesar delivered the key blows.
Her sacrifice fly in the third inning was the only run until the Lady Bisons gave Picard a 6-0 cushion in the fifth.
Two walks got Lady Lion Kristie Mulhollem in trouble, and B.J. Bowman and Colesar made her pay with back-to-back doubles. Bowman’s rip to left center plated Lindsey Samsel, and Colesar’s shot up the right center alley added two runs. After an Altoona error kept the inning alive, Keener and Moore came through with two-out RBI-singles.
A walk and another two-out miscue in the top of the seventh enabled Keener and Moore to drive in runs that loomed large when the Lady Lions finally broke through against Picard, who was working on a five-hitter.
She lost the shutout on two-out doubles by Kim Bumbarger and Brooke Kudlawiec. Bailey Sinai singled for an RBI, and the situation got a little dicey for Picard when a walk and a hit by Mulhollem loaded the bases. Clearfield’s lone error and a run-scoring single by Kayla Montgomery made it 8-4 with the tying run at the plate before Picard recorded the final out.
“I went out there and told her all we have to do is get one out,” Dixon said. “She threw a lot of pitches, but she hung in there.”
Picard struck out four and walked four in her first varsity win.
Altoona fell to 1-3 in its CPL opener.
The Lady Bisons begin a four-game week Monday at home against Bellefonte (4-0) in a non-league game.
Then, they hit the road again to test CPL and District 9 Northern Allegany League Big School Division contender Punxsutawney (1-0) Wednesday before participating in the Thunder on the Mountain Tournament at Lock Haven Saturday. Clearfield gets Brockway in the 9 a.m. opener, with Altoona taking on host Central Mountain in the other semifinal.
CLEARFIELD — 8
Andrea Butler ss 4110, Janell Zalno lf 3120, B.J. Bowman cf 4111, Suzie Colesar 1b 2113, Melinda Owens 2b 4200, Rachel Cordon dp 4100, Mia Keener 3b 3032, Makenzie Moore c 4022, Lindsey Samsel rf 3100, Breanna Blaylock ph 1000, Heather Picard p (flex) 0000. TOTALS: 32 8 10 8.
ALTOONA — 4
Kim Bumbarger cf 4120, Brooke Kudlawiec c 3121, Bailey Sinai ss-p 4121, Didi Rizzo 3b 3100, Kristie Mulhollem p-ss 4020, Kasey Hatch dp 4000, Kayla Montgomery lf 4021, Hannah Campbell 1b 2000, Madeline Berry 2b 3000, Alexia Weyandt rf (flex) 0000. TOTALS: 34 4 10 3.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 001 050 2 – 8 10 1
Altoona 000 000 4 – 4 10 6
Errors – Butler; Rizzo 2, Campbell 2, Berry 2. DP – Altoona 1 (Montgomery and Berry). LOB – Clearfield 6; Altoona 10. 2B – Bowman, Colesar; Bumbarger, Bumbarger. Sac – Keener. SF – Colesar. CS – Bumbarger (by Moore).
Pitching
Clearfield – Picard 7 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K.
Altoona – Mulhollem 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 0 K; Sinai 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K.
WP – Picard 1; Sinai.
W – Picard (1-1). L – Mulhollem (1-2).