NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk Collegiate manufactured a run on a walk and three infield hits in the bottom of the seventh inning to spoil the Clearfield Area High School baseball team’s opener, 10-9, Friday afternoon.
The Bisons had battled back from deficits of 7-0 after two innings and 9-5 after five, drawing even with the Mighty Oaks by rallying for four runs in the top of the seventh.
After Cole Kephart’s double and two walks set the table, Ronny Ogden and Jon Janocko drew free passes to force in runs. Pinch-runner Kurtis Krise scored on Wyatt Westen’s forceout and coach Sid Lansberry signaled for Clearfield’s forced balk play that worked once more, allowing Ogden to trot home with the equalizer.
Unfortunately, Norfolk Collegiate turned a walk into the winning tally when sacrifice bunts by Mark Howlett and Jack Markey went for base hits and losing pitcher Kyler Kephart slipped trying to field Kyle Russo’s swinging bunt down the first base line.
Ronny Ogden gave the Bisons a chance to pull it out by keeping the Mighty Oaks in check over four innings, surrendering four hits and two runs.
Norfolk Collegiate got to starter Tanner Ogden for seven hits and seven runs, six earned, in two innings.
Clearfield began its comeback with a four-spot in the third frame before the game was delayed 30 minutes because of Virginia’s Thunder Rule. Tanner Ogden and Coleman Kubala singled for RBIs, and two runners scored on errors.
Kubala picked up a second RBI with a fifth-inning grounder.
Tanner Ogden had two of Clearfield’s seven hits. Janocko added a two-bagger.
The Bisons will host Bellefonte Tuesday and Penns Valley Friday in Mountain League cross-over games.
CLEARFIELD — 9
Cole Kephart ss 3210, Kyler Kephart 2b-1b-2b-p 3210, Tanner Ogden p-cf 4121, Coleman Kubala 1b 3012, Kurtis Krise pr 0100, Ronny Ogden lf-p-lf 3101, Jon Janocko 3b-1b 3011, Curtis Collins 2b 0000, Wyatt Westen cf-lf-3b 4001, Matt Josephson rf 2111, Thomas Summers ph 0000, Michael Wood pr 0000, Jonas Kochan c 3100. TOTALS: 28 9 7 7.
NORFOLK COLLEGIATE — 10
Jack Markey ss-p-ss 3110, Kyle Rosso c 5243, Zack Morrison lf 3211, Sean Frazier 3b 2212, Daniel Will p-ss-1b 4032, Hunter Payne 1b-p 4011, Conner Hopkins rf 0000, Dave Corliss dh 3100, Cabell Thomas 2b 2100, Mark Howlett cf 4131. TOTALS: 30 10 14 10.
Errors – K. Kephart, Kochan; Thomas, Howlett. DP – Norfolk Collegiate 1 (Will and Payne). LOB – Clearfield 6; Norfolk Collegiate 10; 2B – C. Kephart, Janocko; Frazier. HR – Morrison. Sac – Thomas. SB – Westen; Howlett.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 004 010 4 – 9 7 2
Norfolk Collegiate 250 110 1 – 10 14 2
Pitching
Clearfield – T. Ogden – 2 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K; R. Ogden 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K; K. Kephart 0 IP (faced 4 batters in 7th), 3 H; 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
Norfolk Collegiate – Will 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K; Markey 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K; Payne 2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 2 K.
WP – R. Ogden.
W – Payne. L – K. Kephart (0-1).