STORMSTOWN – The Clearfield Little League 11-and-12 All-Stars got off to a great start in the District 5 Northern Tier Tournament with a solid 6-2 victory over Tri-County at the Community Park Field Saturday evening.
Three pitchers combined on a four-hitter and were backed by flawless defense, while Matt Collins and Jake Sorbera paced an eight-hit attack with key extra base blows.
Collins drove in three runs with a double and a home run and also notched a save by retiring the lone batter he faced with two runners aboard in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sorbera’s two-run double capped a four-run first inning and turned out to be the game-winning hit.
Brandon Orsich registered the win with four strong innings. He struck out seven and gave up one walk and one hit, the first of Joe Johnston’s two homers.
Johnston also homered off Will Myers with two outs in the sixth.
After Justin Beck singled and Coy Focht drew his third free pass of the game, Collins came on to close it out by inducing a flyout.
Christian Leigey singled and Myers reached base on an error to set the stage for Clearfield’s big first inning.
One out later, Marcus Luzier singled and Collins doubled for RBIs. Those two scored on Sorbera’s two-out two-bagger.
Collins socked his home run after Luzier doubled with one out in the fourth frame.
Clearfield will travel again Monday to meet Milesburg in a winner’s bracket semifinal.
CLEARFIELD — 6
Christian Leigey ss 3110, Will Myers 1b-p 4100, Brandon Orsich p-cf 3000, Marcus Luzier 3b 3221, Matt Collins cf-1b-p 3223, Mike Ternoway 2b 2000, Max Lohman ph-2b 1000, Jake Sorbera c 3012, Gavin Starr lf 0000, Noah Rumsky lf 2010, Reese Wilson rf 2010. TOTALS: 26 6 8 6.
TRI-COUNTY — 2
Kayla Hawbaker 2b 3000, Mason Mellott ss-1b-3b 3000, Kody Hamer p-ss 3000, Joe Johnston 1b-p01b 3222, Justin Beck c 3010, Coy Focht 3b-p 0000, Luke Grey lf 2000, Taylor Heinbaugh lf 1000, Larry VanAllman rf 1000, Frank Scott rf 1010, Tyler Simpson cf 1000, Grant King cf 1000. TOTALS: 22 2 4 2.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 400 020 – 6 8 0
Tri-County 000 101 – 2 4 1
Error – Mellott. LOB – Clearfield 5; Tri-County 5. 2B – Luzier, Collins, Sorbera. HR – Collins; Johnston 2. Sac – Wilson.
Pitching
Clearfield – Orsich 4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K; Myers 1-2/3 IP 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K; Collins 1/3 IP 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
Tri-County – Hamer 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K; Johnston 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K; Focht 1 IP 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
W – Orsich (1-0). L – Hamer. Save – Collins (1).
