HYDE – Tyler Jacobson drove in four runs, Derek Danver had three hits and scored four runs and Jarrett Fulmer registered his first varsity win as the Clearfield Bisons shrugged off another long layoff because of the weather to trim Huntingdon 10-2 in five innings Wednesday afternoon.
The Mountain League Allegheny Division game was official when a driving rainstorm soaked the wind-swept Bison Sports Complex after Bearcat pinch-hitter Nate Shope singled to lead off the top of the sixth.
Clearfield’s first victory in three games against division opponents leveled its overall record at 3-3, which coach Sid Lansberry rates as an accomplishment considering the many postponements in the first four and a half weeks of the season. Four of the Bison games were packed into an eight-day stretch that ended with a comeback win over Bald Eagle Area in their last outing on April 18.
“This has been a terrible season,” he said. “We’ve only been on our infield for three games and one practice.
“It’s just practice day after day. I was praying we could play today so we wouldn’t have to practice.
“You have trouble coming up with things that are different. These kids show up every night, and you can see it on their faces, ‘What are we gonna do tonight.’
“But we were pretty sharp for a long layoff.”
Especially Fulmer, who hurled a six-hitter with eight strikeouts and only one walk.
Bearcats were caught looking at strike three on five of the punch-outs.
“I think that’s probably the best game he’s pitched so far,” Lansberry said. “He mixed his pitches well and kept the ball down.”
Down by a run on two occasions, Clearfield took control with four runs in the third inning off Matt Kyper, the key blow a two-run double to deep left center by Jacobson in his first start as the clean-up hitter.
Danver singled sharply through the middle and Andrew Redden reached base on an error to set the table for Jacobson, who put the Bisons ahead to stay at 3-2 and then scored on Trevor Flanagan’s ground single off shortstop Alex Miller’s glove. Drew Brown’s bases-loaded force-out was good for another run.
After walks to Danver and Flanagan around a Bearcat error filled the sacks in the fourth, designated hitter Steve Miller cracked a single to deep left off reliever Will Clarkson to expand the Bison margin to 7-2.
“I have to give Miller credit,” Lansberry said. “He’s worked pretty hard and he finally gets a chance. He had two good hits.”
Clearfield tacked on three runs off Alex Miller in the fifth, Redden ending his stay on the mound with a two-run single to center following Brown’s second hit, a walk and Danver’s well-placed bunt single.
Jacobson, batting clean-up for the first time, then greeted Jordan Weller with a liner to left for his second sacrifice fly of the game to cap his four-RBI performance.
His first one, a drive to deep center, plated Danver in the first frame after the senior shortstop’s high fly to short center fell for a double with one out and Redden slashed a single to right.
“Jacobson’s first sac fly and his double were key,” Lansberry said. “We moved him up because he’s been driving the ball pretty well in practice, and it worked out. He came up at the right times.”
Danver’s perfect day at the plate lifted his average to .500 to go with eight walks, at least one in every game. He’s scored 10 runs.
“Danver’s got a good eye and he’s hitting in a good spot (No. 2) in the order,” Lansberry said. “He’s been doing a great job of getting on base. His on-base percentage is sky-high right now.
Lansberry was pleased to see Clearfield’s dozen hits come from seven spots in the lineup.
“We got good production up and down the order,” he said. “Everybody contributed, and that’s what it takes.”
Back-to-back doubles by Kevin Morris and Alec Tressler had Huntingdon (2-8, 0-3 ML-Allegheny Division) in front in the first.
Nate Negri singled, stole second and scored on Kyper’s single to give the Bearcats a short-lived 2-1 edge in the top of the third.
Norris and Kyper had two hits apiece for the visitors.
Clearfield will be at home against Brookville Thursday, Central Friday and Indian Valley Saturday at 1 p.m.
HUNTINGDON — 2
Nate Negri 3b-ss 2100, Kevin Norris 2b 3120, Alec Tressler c 3011, Matt Kyper p-3b-1b 3021, Alex Miller ss-lf-p-3b 3000, Jordan Weller 1b-p 0000, Seth McGraw dh 3010, Josh Bafia lf-cf-lf 2000, Luke Corbin rf 2000, Will Clarkson cf-p-cf 2000. TOTALS: 23 2 6 2.
CLEARFIELD — 10
Jarrett Fulmer p 3100, Derek Danver ss 3430, Andrew Redden c 4122, Tyler Jacobson 2b-3b 2214, Trevor Flanagan 3b-1b 2111, Kurtis Krise rf 1000, Steve Miller dh 3022, Shane Harper cf 4000, Coleman Kubala 1b 2010, Tanner Ogden 2b 0000, Drew Brown lf 3121. TOTALS: 27 10 12 10.
Score by Innings
Huntingdon 101 00 – 2 6 2
Clearfield 104 23 – 10 12 2
Errors – Negri 2; Flanagan 2. PB – Tressler 1. LOB – Huntingdon 7; Clearfield 9. 2B – Norris, Tressler; Danver, Jacobson. SF – Jacobson 2. SB – Negri; Danver, Redden.
Pitching
Huntingdon – Kyper 3+ IP (faced 1 batter in 4th), 8 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2; Clarkson 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K; Miller 0+ IP (faced 4 batters in 5th), 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K; Weller 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
Clearfield – Fulmer 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K.
HB – Weller 1 (Flanagan). WP – Clarkson 1.
W – Fulmer (1-3). L – Kyper (1-2).
Umpires – Lynn Gilman (plate) and Dale Shaw (bases).
