HYDE — A quality start by Jake Sorbera, a tie-breaking home run by Reese Wilson in the sixth inning and some outstanding middle-infield defense in the seventh inning added up to the first win of the season for the Clearfield Area High School baseball team at the Bison Sports Complex Tuesday.
Ending a nine-day layoff by handing Bald Eagle Area its first loss in three games, 4-2, leveled the Bison’s record in the Mountain League at 1-1.
“That’s a good win, but it didn’t look so good for five innings,” Bison coach Sid Lansberry said.
That’s because Sorbera and BEA’s Garret Barnhart were hooked up in an old-fashioned mound duel.
Neither right-hander allowed a hit the first time through the order, and the Eagle senior carried his no-no into the fifth before the Bison blasted their way out of a season-opening batting funk that showed only one safety in 11 innings.
Back-to-back doubles by Nate Barr on a liner into left center and Harrison Peacock on a hooking drive into the right field corner produced the first run. Later, Ty Bender sliced an opposite-field single down the right field line to make it 2-0.
“It could be one of those years where, once somebody gets that first hit to give us a spark, pretty soon we get some runs,” Lansberry said. “We did that last year a lot.”
The Eagles drew even in the top of the sixth inning, though, with the help of a two-out Bison misplay. Kael Gardner and Hunter Brooks followed with run-scoring singles, prompting Lansberry to lift Sorbera, who was nearing 100 pitches, in favor of Eli Glass.
He faced a first-and-third situation, and when Brooks took off for second base, Bison catcher Barr bluffed a throw and, instead, fired to third base to pick off Gardner, who was tagged out in a rundown.
In the lower sixth, Wilson wasted no time reclaiming the lead for the Bison, walloping his first career homer over the left center fence for the game-winning hit.
Sorbera received Barnhart’s sixth free pass and, after Trent Donley relieved, scored the insurance run when Glass slashed a double to left field for Clearfield’s fourth extra-base blow.
“That’s five clutch hits,” Lansberry said. “We’re not hitting the ball like I thought we would early, but it’s the second game, and it’s been cold.”
Defensive gems by back-up shortstop Caullin Reed and second baseman Hayden Williams preserved the win for Glass, his first, and the Bison in the seventh.
Reed charged in to turn Jordan Jones’ slow roller past the mound into the second out.
Then, after hits by Jaden Jones and Grant King and a walk to Donley loaded the bases, Reed knocked down Matt Reese’s diving line drive and, off balance, quickly threw toward second base for a forceout. His throw was high, but Williams was able to corral it for a spectacular game-ending play.
“That would have been a tie game, easily,” Lansberry said.
Sorbera wound up surrendering four hits and two walks while striking out six in 5-2/3 innings. Both of BEA’s runs were unearned.
“It‘s too bad he couldn‘t get the win, but that‘s a great effort by him,” Lansberry said. “I wanted to take him out after 75 (pitches), but I’ve gotta try to win.
“He’s pitched well both games. One mistake against Huntingdon. Throws a little bit harder (than last year). Better breaking stuff. He’s gonna keep us in games.”
The Bison step out of the league to play District 9 Class AAAA rival Punxsutawney Wednesday in the first of three road games this week.
Mountain League standings — Huntingdon 3-0, Bald Eagle Area 2-1, Clearfield 1-1, Bellefonte 1-1, Central 1-1, Philipsburg-Osceola 0-1, Tyrone 0-1, Penns Valley 0-2.
BALD EAGLE AREA — 2
Grant King 2b 3110, Trent Donley rf-p 3000, Matt Reese cf 4010, Garret Barnhart p-lf 3100, Kael Gardner 3b 3011, Hunter Brooks lf-rf 3011, Dylan Bisel c 3010, Jordan J ones 1b 2000, Jaden Jones ss 2010. TOTALS: 26 2 6 2.
CLEARFIELD — 4
Eli Glass ss-p 2011, Ty Bender rf 4011, Seth Bumbarger 1b 3000, Hayden Williams 2b 0000, Allan Myers dh 3000, Reese Wilson cf 2111, Jake Sorbera p-lf 1100, Nate Barr c 1110, Harrison Peacock 3b 3111, Alec Graham lf 2000, Caullin Reed ss 0000. TOTALS: 21 4 5 4.
Score by Innings
Bald Eagle Area 000 002 0 – 2 6 0
Clearfield 000 022 x – 4 5 2
E – Glass, Peacock. DP – Clearfield 1 (Barr and Bumbarger). LOB – Bald Eagle Area 7; Clearfield 7. 2B – Bisel; Glass, Barr, Peacock. HR – Wilson (1). Sac – Ja. Jones; Barr. SB – Brooks; Glass. CS – Wilson (by Bisel). PO – Reese (by Barr); Gardner (by Barr).
Pitching
Bald Eagle Area – Barnhart 5+ IP (face 2 batters in 6th), 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 3 K; Donley 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K.
Clearfield – Sorbera 5-2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K; Glass 1-1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.
WP – Barnhart 1; Sorbera 1.
W – Glass (1-0). L – Barnhart.
Umpires – Kenny Knepp (plate) and Joe Shick (bases).
Bison Scoreboard:
Date Opponent Score Record
3/27 @ Central ppd. 0 – 0
3/28 @ Central ppd. 0 – 0
3/31 @ Huntingdon 1 – 5 0 – 1
4/03 BELLEFONTE ppd. 0 – 1
4/05 @ Tyrone ppd. 0 – 1
4/06 BELLEFONTE ppd. 0 – 1
4/09 @ Central ppd. 0 – 1
4/10 BALD EAGLE AREA 4 – 2 1 – 1
4/11 @ Punxsutawney
4/13 @ Penns Valley
4/14 @ Tyrone
4/16 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA
4/19 CENTRAL
4/20 BRADFORD
4/23 @ Curwensville
4/24 HUNTINGDON
4/27 @ Bellefonte
4/30 TYRONE
5/01 @ Brookville
5/03 @ Bald Eagle Area
5/08 PENNS VALLEY
5/09 BELLEFONTE
5/11 @ Philipsburg-Osceola
5/14 DUBOIS
5/15 CURWENSVILLE
