HYDE – Andrew Redden blasted a walk-off grand slam home run in the sixth inning to stamp an exclamation point on a five-for-five afternoon at the plate and a 16-hit barrage the Clearfield Area High School baseball team launched against Brookville at the Bison Sports Complex for a 15-2 non-league Mercy Rule win Thursday.
The catcher’s big day that included six runs batted in and one of the Bisons’ three doubles overshadowed a four-hit performance by leadoff batter Jarrett Fulmer, who also had a two-bagger and scored four runs.
“Redden’s been hitting the ball hard,” coach Sid Lansberry said. “He just stings the ball no matter where he hits it.”
Derek Danver and Steve Miller contributed home runs to the fireworks that produced a season-high for hits and a third consecutive victory for a 4-3 record.
“We hit the ball hard. Not many bloops. Good, hard line drives,” said Lansberry, noting that seven starters joined the hit parade. “That’s a good sign.”
Danver, hitting between Fulmer and Redden, triggered the Clearfield attack with a two-run homer in the first inning and also scored after being hit by a pitch and continuing his streak of drawing at least one walk in every game.
“Unbelievable,” Lansberry said of the shortstop’s .679 on-base average for 28 trips to the plate.
He added, “We’re getting a lot of production out of the top of the order.”
Combined, the trio of seniors have 31 hits for a .492 average, topped by Redden’s .583, have scored 36 runs and have driven in 26.
Miller and Coleman Kubala chipped in two hits apiece for the Bisons, who made hurler Trevor Flanagan’s task easy.
The senior right-hander pitched like he was in a mound duel, though, as he posted his second complete-game win with a four-hitter.
Flanagan, who retired the first seven Raiders and carried a no-no into the fourth inning, struck out six and walked four.
“Trevor pitched a pretty good game,” Lansberry said. “I think he got a little tired. I’m glad he didn’t have to go out again for the last inning. That’s why that 10-run rule sometimes is good.”
After Danver clubbed his homer over the left field fence in the first, Redden doubled down the right field line and scored on an error for a 3-0 start.
The Bisons chased loser Anthony Black in the second with a four-run salvo ignited by Fulmer’s double off the base of the center field fence and capped by Miller’s two-run homer to left.
“He crushed that home run,” Lansberry said.
In the third, Fulmer singled and was chased home by Redden for the second inning in a row.
After Flanagan walked to lead off the fourth, courtesy runner Tanner Ogden moved up on two wild pitches by reliever Dustin Dombrowski and scored when the ball was thrown away at third base.
Clearfield was poised to shorten the game in the sixth when Miller and Kubala singled and Brandon Brownlee walked Drew Brown and Shane Harper to force in a run.
Christian Greg, the fourth Brookville pitcher, got Fulmer to bounce into an force-out at third, Kubala scoring, but then walked Danver to set the stage for Redden’s game-ending screamer over the high fence in left.
Zane Hackett had two hits for Brookville (1-4). He broke up Flanagan’s no-hitter with a one-out single in the fourth and scored on a bases-loaded walk.
Ryan Zimmerman lofted a high fly to straightaway center for a solo homer in the fifth.
Fulmer executed two outstanding defensive plays in the late innings, leaping high to spear Garret Weaver’s liner for an inning-ending double play in the fifth and turning, circling and diving to deny Gerg a hit on a high pop behind him in the sixth.
The high sky, sun, wind and water-logged outfield made it difficult for players to corral balls hit into the air.
“It was bad,” Lansberry said in defense of the fielders. “Even in pre-game, we had a lot of trouble. Footing was so bad out there you’re sinking in that far (holding his hands several inches apart).”
The conditions did not affect the number of the Bisons’ season-high hits, though. All were legit.
Clearfield wraps up the week with home games against Mountain League Allegheny Division foe Central Friday and Indian Valley Saturday at 1 p.m.
BROOKVILLE — 2
Dustin Dombrowski 3b-p-ss 2000, Seth Connor ss-2b 2000, Ryan Zimmerman rf-cf 3111, Jared Heschke cf 3000, Pat Brush 3b 0000, Zane Hackett 1b 3120, Anthony Black p-3b 000, Brandon Brownlee p-lf 0000, Garret Weaver dh 3000, Dakota Singleton c 3010, Christian Gerg lf-p, Tyler Dombrowski 2b-rf 2001. TOTALS: 23 2 4 1.
CLEARFIELD — 15
Jarrett Fulmer 2b 5441, Derek Danver ss 3312, Andrew Redden c 5256, Tyler Jacobson 3b 3010, Trevor Flanagan p 3211, Kurtis Krise rf 0000, Steve Miller dh 4222, Coleman Kubala 1b 3120, Drew Brown lf 2000, Ronny Ogden ph 0000, Shane Harper cf 2101, Jordan Lancaster ph 1000. TOTALS: 31 15 16 13.
Score by Innings
Brookville 000 110 – 2 4 1
Clearfield 341 106 – 15 16 2
E – D. Dombrowski; Danver, Harper. DP – Brookville 2 (Connor, T. Dombrowski and Hackett; Black, T. Dombrowski and Hackett); Clearfield 1 (Fulmer and Kubala). LOB – Brookville 7; Clearfield 8. 2B – Fulmer, Redden, Flanagan. HR – Zimmerman; Danver (1); Redden (2); Miller (1).
Pitching
Brookville – Black 1-2/3 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 1 K; D. Dombrowski 2-1/3 IP 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K; Brownlee 1+ IP (faced 4 batters in 6th), 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K; Gerg 1/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
Clearfield – Flanagan 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K.
HB – Black 1 (Danver). WP – D. Dombrowski 2.
W – Flanagan (2-0). L – Black (0-1).
Umpires – Norm Bender (plate) and Garry Shirey (bases).
