HYDE – Shut out for six innings by Kyler Kephart, Beech Creek pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh to nip Clearfield 2-1 in Central Penn American Legion League action at the Clearfield Area High School junior varsity field Monday evening.
Kyler and the Post 6 Chiefs were two outs away from their second win when Kyle McGregor lofted a sacrifice fly to left center and Cole Hanley followed with a single through the left side to drive in Eric Smeal for the winning run.
Left fielder Andrew Redden almost saved the victory for Clearfield with a strong, accurate throw on McGregor’s flyout, but the sliding Bryce Hanley was able to touch the plate before Jonas Kochan could apply the tag.
Bryce Hanley had triggered the rally with a one-out double to deep right center and advanced to third when Smeal, who had walked, eluded a tag attempt by charging Clearfield second baseman Cole Kephart on Phil Holter’s slow roller.
Chuck Probst was the beneficiary of the Beech Creek comeback.
The right-hander, who recorded four of Bucktail Area High School’s six wins this spring, limited the Chiefs to five hits while striking out 10 and walking only one.
Clearfield’s run in the third inning was unearned, resulting from a two-out throwing error that allowed Curtis Collins to score. He had singled to center and was sacrificed to second by Kyler Kephart.
After that, the only Chief to reach second base was Wyatt Westen, who led off the fifth with a double to deep center but was thrown out on a steal attempt.
A defensive gem by Cole Hanley prevented the Chiefs from putting some one-out pressure on Probst in the do-or-die lower seventh after pinch-hitter Thomas Summers slashed a single past first baseman Bryce Hanley. The Beech Creek second baseman dove to backhand Westen’s grounder headed for center field and managed to flip the ball to shortstop McGregor for a forceout on pinch-runner Josh Kennedy.
Probst then punctuated his outstanding performance with his eighth strikeout in the last four innings.
Kyler Kephart’s effort was win-worthy, too.
He gave up seven hits and three walks, but only two Beech Creek runners touched second base over the first six frames.
The Chiefs engineered two double plays, one started by catcher Redden after a diving grab of Holter’s sacrifice bunt try.
Cole Kephart also went prone to flag down Clayton Butler’s soft liner with one on in the sixth.
Clearfield takes to the road for a CPL make-up with West Division rival DuBois Wednesday and returns to the Bison Sports Complex to host Fox Township in a non-league game Thursday at 6 p.m.
BEECH CREEK — 2
Kyle McGregor ss 3001, Cole Hanley 3b-2b 3011, Chuck Probst p 4020, Devin Staley lf-3b 3010, Clayton Butler c 3000, Drew Nyman cf 3010, Trevor Reed 1b 1000, Bryce Hanley ph-1b 2110, Wes Smeal 2b 1010, Eric Smeal lf 0100, Phil Holter rf 3000. TOTALS: 26 2 7 2.
CLEARFIELD — 1
Kyler Kephart p 1000, Tanner Ogden cf 2000, Matt Josephson rf 0000, Devin Jones rf 0000, Derek Danver ss 3000, Andrew Redden c-lf 3010, Coleman Kubala 3b 3000, Jon Janocko 1b 3010, Cole Kephart 2b 2000, Thomas Summers ph 1010, Josh Kennedy pr 0000, Wyatt Westen rf-cf 3010, Curtis Collins lf 2110, Jonas Kochan c 1000. TOTALS: 24 1 5 0.
Score by Innings
Beech Creek 000 000 2 – 2 5 1
Clearfield 001 000 0 – 1 7 1
Errors – McGregor; K. Kephart. DP – Clearfield 2 (Danver, C. Kephart and Janocko; Redden and Janocko). LOB – Beech Creek 7; Clearfield 5. 2B – B. Hanley; Westen. CS – Westen (by Probst).
Pitching
Beech Creek – Probst 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K.
Clearfield – K. Kephart 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
W – Probst (1-0). L – K. Kephart (0-1).
Umpires – Brad Keefer (plate) and Rob Murphy (bases).