Bison Come From Behind For Important 11-7 ML Win

HYDE — In a schoolboy baseball game that was far from a masterpiece, Clearfield scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to turn back Penns Valley 11-7 at the Bison Sports Complex Tuesday and stay in the Mountain League title chase, though in the outside lane.

At 7-5, the Bison would need some help to gain a share of the championship as they are looking up at four teams.

They close their league slate on the road against Bellefonte Wednesday in a make-up game and Philipsburg-Osceola Friday.

Coach Sid Lansberry’s team didn’t play like a contender in dispatching the last-place Rams.

Out-hit 12-8 but recipients of 14 free passes, the Bison stranded 13 runners, gave away runs with three of their four errors and another on an error of omission.

They had to erase deficits of 2-0, 3-2, 6-5 and 7-6 to atone for an eight-inning, 4-3 loss on the Rams’ home diamond April 15.

“It’s a good win for us, because we lost a tough one down there that we should have won,” Lansberry said. “So, this is kind of payback.”

That wasn’t guaranteed until the sixth, when Clearfield (9-6) parlayed two hits, two walks and four Penns Valley errors for the decisive runs.

After Reese Wilson scored the tying run when Thayne Morgan’s grounder was misplayed, Zane Morgan came through with the game-winning hit, a two-run single to center field.

Losing hurler Hunter Homan chalked up a big strikeout with the bases loaded, but Zane Morgan and Justin Fedder scored two insurance runs when Eli Glass’ grounder was booted.

“They helped us out, but it still was a good comeback,” Lansberry said.

The Bison missed opportunities to take control early, leaving nine runners on base in the first three innings.

Penns Valley starter Lucas Sharer couldn’t get comfortable on the mound and walked four of the first five batters he faced, with the free tickets to Marcus Luzier and Glass forcing in runs that produced the first of three tie scores.

Sharer was relieved by Homan after issuing two more walks around a single by Morgan in the second frame. Jon Trimpey’s sacrifice fly and Luzier’s single to center gave the Bison a 4-3 lead.

Clearfield regained the advantage at 5-4 in the fourth when Glass dashed to the plate on a wild pitch. The freshman, making his first start as the designated hitter, had drawn his third consecutive free pass and advanced to third on a walk to Reese Wilson and a sacrifice bunt by Seth Bumbarger.

Another singleton in the fifth knotted it at 6-6, Luzier picking up his third RBI with a sacrifice fly that chased Fedder home.

Jake Sorbera, who had relieved Will Myers in the fifth inning, surrendered a go-ahead unearned run in the top of the sixth but wound up with his third win when the Bison rallied.

The sophomore righty gave up three hits and struck out two in 2-2/3 innings.

“Jake did a nice job coming into a tough situation,” Lansberry said. “He’s been sick for over a week and just came back.”

Myers had a rough outing in his second start, allowing nine hits and six runs, four earned, in 4-1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked three.

“I think Will pitched well,” Lansberry said. “You’ve gotta give him credit. He’s not really in shape to pitch yet with injuries and a late start, but he hung in there.

“Not that the umpires affected the game, but I thought the tight strike zone frustrated the pitchers on both sides.

“Will had many three-ball counts that caused him to throw more pitches than he normally does. His control usually is pretty good.”

The two batters at the top of the Bison lineup combined for five hits and six runs.

Zane Morgan proved again that he’s the ideal leadoff batter with three hits, one walk, two stolen bases and three runs scored.

Fedder singled twice, walked twice, stole two bases and scored three times.

Homan and Keith Butts singled and doubled while Sharer also had a pair of hits for Penns Valley (4-13, 2-11 ML).

Clearfield’s junior varsity also was victorious, 10-8, to raise its record to 10-3. Alex Coval was the winning pitcher, with Wyatt Porter earning a save.

Ethan McGinnis and Jon Gates each had two hits and two RBIs. McGinnis had three stolen bases and two runs scored. Alec Graham and Noah Rumsky also scored twice.

Mountain League Standings — Central 9-4, Philipsburg-Osceola 8-5, Bald Eagle Area 8-5, Huntingdon 8-5, Clearfield 7-5, Bellefonte 5-7, Tyrone 4-9, Penns Valley 2-11.

PENNS VALLEY — 7

Keith Butts lf 4120, Allen Cain 3b-ss 5111, Chase Collison 1b-p 4111, Hunter Homan ss-p 3221, Connor Dix 1b 0000, Lucas Sharer p-3b 4020, Corby Woodring cf 4011, Luke Snyder c 2110, Dillon Steiger cr 0000, Andrew Tobias 2b 4110, Jon Montresor rf 4011. TOTALS: 34 7 12 5.

CLEARFIELD — 11

Zane Morgan c 4332, Justin Fedder 2b 3320, Jon Trimpey lf 1011, Marcus Luzier 3b 3013, Will Myers p 0000, Eli Glass dh-cf 2111, Reese Wilson rf-cf 4100, Seth Bumbarger 1b 3000, Tommy Hazel cf 3000, Jake Sorbera p 0100, Thayne Morgan ss 2201. TOTALS: 25 11 8 8.

Score by Innings

Penns Valley    211 021 0 –  7  12  4
Clearfield          220 115 x – 11    8  4
E – Cain, Collison, Sharer, Tobias; Fedder, Luzier, Wilson, Hazel. LOB – Penns Valley 10; Clearfield 13. 2B – Butts, Homan, Sharer. Sac – Bumbarger. SF – Trimpey, Luzier. SB – Woodring, Steiger, Tobias, Montresor; Z. Morgan 2, Fedder 2, Trimpey, T. Morgan 2.

Pitching

Penns Valley – Sharer 1+ IP (faced 3 batters in 2nd), 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 K; Homan 4-2/3 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 2 ER, 8 BB, 3 K; Collison 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
Clearfield – Myers 4-1/3 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K; Sorbera 2-2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K.
HB – Myers 1 (Butts). WP – Sharer 1, Homan 1. Balk – Homan 1. PO – Myers 1 (Sharer).
W – Sorbera (3-3). L – Homan.

Bison Scoreboard: