PHILIPSBURG — The Clearfield American Legion baseball team rallied after falling behind early but wasn’t able to come all the way back and dropped an 8-7 decision to Philipsburg in Central Penn League action at the Don Womer Complex Monday evening.
Spencer Herrington, Sawyer Rowles and Curtis Collins had two hits apiece while Collins, Cole Kephart and Brandon Orsich drove in two runs each for the Chiefs, who dipped to 1-3 with their second one-run loss.
Singles by Herrington and Rowles, an error and a run-scoring groundout by Kephart staked Orsich to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Phils answered with three runs on four hits, including doubles by Vince McDowell and Luther Harlow, and expanded their advantage to 6-2 with three more in the second frame, the big hit a two-run single by Jordan Miller.
Orsich’s two-run double got the Chiefs back in the game in the fourth inning, and they narrowed the deficit to 6-5 in the fifth when Rowles singled, advanced to third on Collins’ double and scored on Kephart’s sacrifice fly.
Derek Shaw singled to plate Aaron Mason, who had tripled, and came around on an error and a passed ball for two Philipsburg insurance runs in the sixth inning, and they proved crucial when Clearfield cashed two Phil errors into tallies in the seventh that only made the final score close.
The win went to Matt Hample, who pitched the final four innings in relief of Miller.
Orsich went the distance for the Chiefs, striking out five and allowing three walks, eight hits and five earned runs.
Clearfield is booked for 6 p.m. home games against Mifflin County Wednesday and Altoona Thursday at the Bison Sports Complex.
CLEARFIELD — 7
Spencer Herrington ss 4120, Sawyer Rowles cf 4320, Curtis Collins 2b 4022, Cole Kephart 3b 3002, Thomas Summers lf 4000, Zach Timchak rf 2100, Josh Kennedy eh 2110, Brandon Orsich p 3012, Logan Lykens 1b 3010, Ty Bender c 3100. TOTALS: 32 7 9 6.
PHILIPSBURG — 8
Tanner Wilson ss-2b 4000, Brandon Zwick 2b 0000, Vince McDowell 3b 2110, Matt Hample eh-p 3110, Nate Kerlin rf 3000, Jordon Martin rf 0000, Luther Harlow 1b 2111, Kyle Johns lf 3011, Walker Williams lf 0000, Aaron Mason cf-dh 2110, Derek Shaw c 3221, Travis Arnold 2b-ss 1100, Jordan Miller p-eh-cf 3113. TOTALS: 26 8 8 6.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 200 210 2 – 7 9 3
Philipsburg 330 002 x – 8 8 4
E – Rowles, Orsich 2; Wilson, McDowell, Shaw, Arnold. PB – Bender 2; Shaw 2. LOB – Clearfield 7; Philipsburg 5. 2B – Collins, Orsich; McDowell, Harlow. 3B – Mason. SF – Kephart.
Pitching
Clearfield – Orsich 6 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
Philipsburg – Miller 3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K; Hample 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K.
HB – Orsich 2 (Arnold 2). WP – Orsich 1.
W – Miller. L – Orsich (0-2).
