BASEBALL
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — Sophomore catcher/infielder Josh Sorbera (Clearfield) and freshman pitcher Brandon Orsich (Clearfield) saw action for Penn State DuBois in the United State Collegiate Athletic Association Small College World Series last week at East Park Field, home of the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers Class AA affiliates in the 1980s.
The sixth-seeded Lions, who lost to Penn State Mont Alto in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Association finals after winning the West Division crown at 11-1, got off to a great start with a 17-5 win over No. 3 Wright State-Lake (Ohio).
Eventual champion College of St. Joseph’s (Vt.) nipped Penn State DuBois 3-2 in the semifinals, and the Lions (22-14) then were ousted by Cleary (Mich.) 8-0 to finish sixth.
Sorbera appeared in all three games, reaching base on an error for an RBI against College of St. Joseph’s and getting hit by a pitch against No. 5 seed Cleary.
Orsich pitched two innings in relief against Cleary, striking out one and giving up four hits and two runs, both unearned.
In 20 games, including 14 starts, Sorbera had 11 hits, one a double, for a .344 batting average with seven RBIs. He drew seven walks and was hit by a pitch five times.
Orsich made 12 appearances with four starts and one complete game.
Team stats show the right-hander 1-0 with a 5.54 earned run average for 26 innings. He whiffed 12 batters, walked three and hit two while surrendering 30 hits and 24 runs, 16 earned.
No. 2 seed College of St. Joseph’s (28-22), which started the season 4-17, repeated as USCAA national champion by rebounding from a 6-3 loss to No. 4 seed Apprentice School (Va.) in the winner’s bracket final to oust Cleary (23-30-1) 5-0 and then sweep Apprentice School (29-18) 11-4 and 6-1.
PSUAC titlist Penn State Alto (14-25-1), the No. 7 seed, lost both games, 9-7 to Marygrove College and 8-7 to Wright State-Lake.