CLEARFIELD — The Clearfield American Legion Post 6 baseball team pulled off a magic act Sunday afternoon, winning a game without a hit to remain alive in the Central Penn League Playoffs.
An unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning was all Will Myers needed for a 1-0 win against Bellefonte in loser’s bracket action at the Bison Sports Complex.
Myers earned his second shutout in eight days, hurling a four-hitter with seven strikeouts to lower his earned run average by more than a run to 3.23. He issued only one walk and did hit one Bandit in balancing his record at 2-2.
“He threw really well,” Clearfield manager Sid Lansberry said. “That was very encouraging.”
The Chiefs found Bandit left-hander David Keller even tougher to hit. The tough-luck loser allowed six walks and hit one batter while fanning four.
Clearfield’s run was set up when Jon Trimpey was hit by a pitch and advanced into scoring position on Marcus Luzier’s sacrifice bunt.
After Myers walked with two outs, Trimpey came around when Jake Sorbera’s grounder was misplayed.
Because of its fourth place finish in the regular season, Clearfield (10-9) will play a third consecutive home game Monday at 6 p.m. against Huntingdon, which defeated the Chiefs 3-0 Friday.
Huntingdon followed up with a 7-6 squeaker over regular season champion Beech Creek Saturday before losing 3-1 to Mifflin County in the winner’s bracket final Sunday.
In the other weekend games, Mifflin County bounced Bellefonte 13-3 Saturday and Beech Creek rebounded to eliminate State College 6-5 Sunday.
CPL Playoffs standings — Mifflin County 2-0, Huntingdon 2-1, Beech Creek 1-1, Clearfield 1-1, Bellefonte* 1-2, State College* 0-2. * – Eliminated.
BELLEFONTE — 0
Ryan McElwee ss 2000, Alex Struble 3b 3020, Nick Jabco cf 2010, Colton Treaster c 2000, Jon Montressor rf 3000, Logan Harter 1b 3000, Storm Smith 2b 3010, Darren Heeman cf 3000, Jeremy Warefield dh 3000. TOTALS: 24 0 4 0.
CLEARFIELD — 1
Josh Sorbera c 2000, Jon Trimpey cf 2100, Marcus Luzier 3b 1000, Brandon Orsich 1b 3000, Will Myers p 1000, Ty Bender rf 1000, Jake Sorbera rf 1000, Justin Fedder 2b 2000, Reese Wilson lf 2000, Tommy Hazel lf 1000, Zane Morgan ss 0000, Jarrit Wagner ph 1000, Thayne Morgan ss 0000. TOTALS: 17 1 0 0.
Score by Innings
Bellefonte 000 000 0 – 0 4 1
Clearfield 000 001 x – 1 0 1
E – Struble; Jo. Sorbera. LOB – Bellefonte 6; Clearfield 7. 2B – Struble. Sac – Treaster; Luzier, Bender. CS – Jabco (Jo. Sorbera).
Pitching
Bellefonte – David Keller 6 IP, 0 H, 1 ER, 0 ER, 6 BB, 4 K.
Clearfield – Myers 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K.
HB – Keller 1 (Trimpey); Myers (McElwee).
W – Myers (2-2). L – Keller.