HYDE – Punxsutawney scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Clearfield 9-5 in an important Jefferson County Legion League showdown at the Bison Sports Complex Wednesday evening.
Tommy Bush cracked three hits and drove in five runs and also recorded the final three outs in relief of winner Dylan Kachmar as the visitors vaulted over the Chiefs into second place with an 8-3 record.
Clearfield, which has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season, tumbled to third place at 8-4.
Manager Sid Lansberry’s John Lewis Shade Post 6 club, 9-4 overall, took a 4-2 lead in the second frame with five of its eight hits off Kachmar, who struck out six and walked two.
Derek Danver doubled to deep left center to drive in Corey Bookhamer, who had walked, but he strayed too far off second on the plate at the plate and was caught in a rundown.
That out loomed large when singles by Kyle Timchak and Tyler Jacobson reignited the rally. Justyn Knepp reached base on a forceout at third and Shane Harper walked to fill the sacks for Jarrett Fulmer, who lined a single to center for two RBIs. Justin Hoffman followed with a fly ball to short right center for another RBI.
Andrew Redden ripped a bad-hop double to left and scored on Bookhamer’s sharp grounder through the middle for Clearfield’s other run that tied the game 5-5 in the fifth.
Bailed out of a bases-loaded threat by a doubleplay after Punxsy had gone in front 5-4 in the third, Danver settled down and allowed only one hit through the next three innings.
However, the first-time starter issued the ninth of his 10 walks and hit Taylor Neal for the second time to open the seventh. Luke Janochoa fouled off two bunt attempts before laying down a beauty to the left side for a single to load the bases.
Third baseman Jacobson turned Devan Neal’s bouncer into a force at home, but Jordan Mesoraco plated the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to short right center.
After Spencer Levy’s pop-up fell behind the mound for a hit, Bush sealed it for Punxsy (8-5) by slashing a bases-clearing double into the right field corner.
Bush, who had walloped a two-run homer to left in the first inning, then preserved the win for Kachmar. An error and a passed ball on a strikout gave the Chiefs life with one out, but the hard-throwing right-hander closed it out with two more strikeouts.
Tyler Skerkavich’s laser to right center was the lone hit in Punxsy’s three-run third that included three walks, a hit batsman and one of Clearfield’s four miscues.
Bookhamer was the lone Chief with two safeties.
Clearfield will journey to Reynoldsville Thursday for a 6 p.m. JCL game before playing Bellefonte Wood Bat Tournament doubleheaders Friday and Saturday at the Lawrence Township Recreation Park Field.
The Chiefs draw Bradford at 9 a.m. and Kiski at 1:30 p.m. Friday and Mr. Dirt of Towanda at 12:30 p.m. and the Southern Tier All-Stars of New York at 5:30 Saturday. The visiting teams will square off in the middle game of tripleheaders.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — 9
Jordan Mesoraco 2b 4011, Spencer Levy 1b 5210, Tommy Bush ss-p 4235, Tyler Skerkavich c 2110, Brodi Lowmaster cf 2100, Dylan Kachmar p-ss 3000, Taylor Neal 3b 2101, Luke Janocha rf 3121, Devan Neal lf 3101. TOTALS: 28 9 8 9.
CLEARFIELD — 4
Jarrett Fulmer ss 4012, Justin Hoffman rf 4011, Andrew Redden c 4110, Corey Bookhamer 1b 3121, Derek Danver p-2b 4011, Luke Peterson 2b 0000, Ronny Ogden p 0000, Kyle Timchak dh 3010, Tyler Jacobson 3b 3110, Justyn Knepp lf 2100, Kyler Kephart ph 1000, Shane Harper cf 1100, Derrick Snyder ph 1000. TOTALS: 30 5 8 5.
Score by Innings
Punxsutawney 203 000 4 – 9 8 1
Clearfield 040 010 0 – 5 8 4
Errors – Levy; Danver, Peterson 2, Jacobson. PB – Skerkavich. DP – Clearfield 1 (Peterson, Fulmer and Bookhamer. LOB – Punxsutawney 12; Clearfield 6. 2B – Bush; Redden, Danver. HR – Bush. SF – Mesoraco. SB – Bush, Skerkavich 2, Lowmaster; Bookhamer, Redden, Bookhamer. CS – Skerkavich (by Redden).
Pitching
Punxsutawney – Kachmar 6 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; Bush 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.
Clearfield – Danver 6-2/3 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 2 K; Ogden 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
HB – Danver 2 (T. Neal 2). WP – Bush 1.
W – Kachmar. L – Danver (0-1).
Umpires – Jay Siegel (plate); Dave Neal (bases).
