LEBANON – Clearfield was unable to take advantage of a fast start in its Pennsylvania VFW Teener 15-16 State Tournament opener at Coleman Memorial Park Friday afternoon as 2011 runner-up Bald Eagle rallied for a 6-4 victory.
The Area VI champions struck for three runs with two outs in the first inning.
Jon Janocko’s single put runners on the corners, and Curtis Collins, Thomas Summers and Spencer Herrington came through with clutch hits to drive in runs.
Collins doubled home Josh Kennedy, who had singled, to put Clearfield on top 4-0 in the third frame.
However, Clearfield managed only two more hits off Tyler Schall, who struck out five and didn’t allow a walk.
Bald Eagle, meanwhile, got close with singletons in its next three at-bats and then pulled out the win with three runs in the sixth inning.
After Dakota Bartley bunted for a hit, Bryce and Bryan Greene beat out slow grounders, with an error on the latter’s single giving the undefeated Area V champs the tying run.
The Greene twins advanced into scoring position on the miscue, and Schall and Nate Cleaver, who had homered in the fourth frame, followed with sacrifice flies for the deciding runs, both unearned.
Westen went the distance in defeat, surrendering seven hits and two walks. He did not record a strikeout.
Clearfield will meet Area II runner-up Schuylkill South, which lost 12-6 to Suburban America, in the first elimination bracket game at 10 a.m. Saturday. The winner plays again at 5:30 p.m.
Area VI runner-up Punxsutawney was shut out 8-0 by Altoona, and host Lebanon City/County upended Area II champ Schuylkill East 8-3 in other games.
CLEARFIELD — 4
Cole Kephart ss 4-0-0-0, Wyatt Westen p 4-1-1-0, Josh Kennedy 3b 3-1-2-0, Jon Janocko 1b 3-1-1-0, Curtis Collins cf 3-1-2-2, Jonas Kochan c 0-0-0-0, Thomas Summers dh 3-0-2-1, Kaleb Taylor pr 0-0-0-0, Spencer Herrington 2b 3-0-1-1, Josh Sorbera lf 3-0-0-0, Zach Timchak rf 3-0-0-0. TOTALS: 29-4-9-4.
BALD EAGLE — 6
Bryce Greene ss 2-1-1-0, Bryan Greene c 3-1-1-0, Tyler Schall p 2-0-0-1, Nate Cleaver 2b 2-1-1-2, Ryan Dyke 3b 2-0-0-0, Jordan Kobularcik 1b 2-1-1-0, Jason Jones eh 2-1-1-0, Brandon Gettig rf 1-0-0-1, Bubba Bennett cf 2-0-1-1, Dakota Bartley lf 1-1-1-0. TOTALS: 19-6-7-5.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 301 000 0 – 4 9 1
Bald Eagle 001 113 x – 6 7 1
Errors – Kephart; Bryce Greene. DP – Clearfield 1 (Janocko and Kephart). LOB – Clearfield 4; Bald Eagle 1. 2B – Collins; Kobularcik. HR – Cleaver. Sac – Bartley. SF – Schall, Cleaver, Gettig. SB – Bryan Greene 2.
Pitching
Clearfield – Westen 6 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K.
Bald Eagle – Schall 7 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
Balk – Westen 1.
W – Schall. L – Westen.