HUNTINGDON — Sophomores Raeleigh Redden, Victoria Ireland and Sierra Jones combined for six hits and six runs batted in to propel the Clearfield Area High School softball team past Huntingdon 8-4 in Mountain League action Thursday afternoon.
Redden led the Lady Bison with a double and two singles, Ireland had two singles and three RBIs and Jones added a double and a single with two RBIs.
Ireland came through with a clutch two-out single to right field that give Clearfield (1-1) a 2-0 start in the first inning, and Megan Vanderburgh tripled to chase home Redden in the second frame.
The Lady Bison then salted it away with a five-run outburst in the third inning. A two-run double into left center by Jones was the key blow. Lauren Butler’s single and Redden’s double drove in runs to close out the Lady Bison scoring.
Staked to the early lead, Rachel Hoffman kept the Lady Bearcats in check until surrendering three runs in the last two innings.
The senior hurler wound up with a four-hitter, striking out 11 and walking four. She also hit one batter.
Only Kyra Shea gave Hoffman any trouble. The Lady Bearcat leadoff batter singled, doubled and tripled, drove in one run and scored twice.
The fact that Huntingdon (0-1) features seven starters from the a team which won two playoff games before losing 4-3 to Ligonier Valley in the District 6 Class AA semifinals last year made the victory an important one for the Lady Bison.
“It’s a quality win for us,” coach Bob Lewis stated. “We went down there last year and got swept in a doubleheader. And I remember quite a few of those girls.
“This early in the year, you don’t like to talk about a must win, but this was a game we had to have. It will help to build our confidence.”
Clearfield will visit Mill Hall Monday for the makeup of the non-league game against Central Mountain that was postponed Tuesday and then will play its home opener against Bald Eagle Area Tuesday.
CLEARFIELD — 4
Megan Vanderburgh ss 3021, Karlie Lewis cf 4110, Rachel Hoffman p 2210, Devynn Ireland c 4110, Victoria Ireland 1b 4123, Sierra Jones 3b 4122, Taylor Luzier dp 2000, Lauren Butler 2b 3111, Molly Sartin ph 1000, Raeleigh Redden lf 4131, Macala Leigey rf (flex) 2010, Olivia Smith rf 0000. TOTALS: 33 8 14 8.
HUNTINGDON — 8
Kyra Shea 1b 4231, Jenna Conner c 4001, Natanya Shingler lf 4011, Morgan Glover p 0000, Janay McCrum 3b 3000, Shannon Henney 2b 3000, Hannah Varner ss 2000, Kaylene Yoder cf 3100, Kim Stratton dp 2100, Allyssa Handy rf (flex) 0000. TOTALS: 25 4 4 3.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 215 000 0 – 8 14 0
Huntingdon 100 001 2 – 4 4 1
E – Henney. DP – Huntingdon (Shea unassisted). LOB – Clearfield 5; Huntingdon 2. 2B – Hoffman, Jones, Redden; Shea. 3B – Vanderburgh; Shea. SB – Hoffman, V. Ireland, Leigey, Redden. CS – Vanderburgh (by Conner), Leigey (by Conner).
Pitching
Clearfield – Hoffman 7 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 11 K.
Huntingdon – Glover 7 IP, 14 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
HB – Hoffman 1 (Varner).
W – Hoffman (1-1). L – Glover (0-1).
Lady Bison Scoreboard:
| 3/24 | @ Central | 0 – 10 | 0 – 1 |
| 3/25 | @ Central Mountain | ppd. | 0 – 1 |
| 3/27 | @ Huntingdon | 8 – 4 | 1 – 1 |
| 3/31 | @ Central Mountain | ||
| 4/01 | BALD EAGLE AREA | ||
| 4/04 | BELLEFONTE | ||
| 4/07 | @ Tyrone | ||
| 4/10 | PENNS VALLEY | ||
| 4/14 | BROOKVILLE | ||
| 4/16 | PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA | ||
| 4/17 | CENTRAL | ||
| 4/22 | HUNTINGDON | ||
| 4/23 | @ Bradford | ||
| 4/24 | @ Bald Eagle Area | ||
| 4/29 | @ Bellefonte | ||
| 5/01 | PUNXSUTAWNEY | ||
| 5/02 | TYRONE | ||
| 5/05 | @ Penns Valley | ||
| 5/08 | @ Philipsburg-Osceola | ||
| 5/13 | ALTOONA | ||
| 5/15 | @ Hollidaysburg |