HYDE — Pitching dominated with Jake Sorbera outdueling Matthew Tobias as Clearfield slipped past Penns Valley 2-1 in Mountain League schoolboy baseball action at the Bison Sports Complex Tuesday afternoon.
They matched four-hitters, with Sorbera striking out eight and walking three before Cade Walker got the last out and Tobias posting three strikeouts, two walks and two hit batsmen.
All of the runs were unearned.
The Rams scored right away as Cameron Shaffer was safe on a misplay and moved around the sacks on a sacrifice bunt by Cole Breon, a wild pitch and a groundout by Dylan Treaster.
Penns Valley (5-13-1, 1-12 ML) threatened again in the second inning, loading the bases on two walks and a single by Jacob Kines, but Sorbera worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a pop-up.
After that, the senior right-hander was in command on his way to his third win in his first appearance on the mound since April 27.
“Jake was pitching from a long layoff because of an injured foot, so he was a little shaky with his control early on, but once he got in a groove, he took over the game,” Bison coach Sid Lansberry said. “I though he pitched really well over the last four innings.”
Sorbera was pulled after reaching the 100-pitch limit during the second out of the seventh inning, and Walker picked up his first career save by retiring Breon on a flyball to center.
Clearfield (10-3, 7-3 ML) broke through against Tobias in the third inning with the aid of the lone Penns Valley miscue after No. 9 batter Hayden Williams had singled. Eli Glass drew a walk to fill the sacks, and Seth Bumbarger delivered a clutch single to drive in both runs.
The Bison couldn’t get another big hit, though, and stranded three runners in scoring position in the next three frames.
“We didn’t hit well, either,” Lansberry said. “We’ve had a layoff, and we haven’t had good practices because of the lousy weather.
“And you’ve gotta give Tobias credit. He’s a good pitcher. He mixed his fastball and curveball and kept us off balance.”
The Bison will be on their home diamond again Wednesday to take on Bellefonte before hitting the road Thursday to play Philipsburg-Osceola.
Mountain League Standings — Huntingdon 12-1, Bellefonte 9-3, Clearfield 7-3, Philipsburg-Osceola 6-6, Central 5-6, Bald Eagle Area 5-7, Tyrone 3-10, Penns Valley 1-12.
PENNS VALLEY — 1
Cameron Shaffer cf 4100, Cole Breon lf 3010, Dylan Treaster 1b 3011, Logan Snyder c 2000, Clayton Upcraft ph 1000, Matthew Tobias p 2000, Nate Gillespie ss 2010, Aaron Tobias 3b 2000, Jared Kines 2b 3010, Hunter Zimmerman rf 2000, Charlie Romig rf 1000. TOTALS: 25 1 4 1.
CLEARFIELD — 2
Nate Barr c 2100, Eli Glass lf 2010, Seth Bumbarger 1b 3012, Jake Sorbera p 3000, Cade Walker p 0000, Ty Bender rf 2000, Caullin Reed ss 0000, Allan Myers dh 2000, Harrison Peacock 3b 3010, Alec Graham cf 2000, Hayden Williams 2b 2110. TOTALS: 21 2 4 2.
Score by Innings
Penns Valley 100 000 0 – 1 4 1
Clearfield 002 000 x – 2 4 2
E – Gillespie 1; Glass 2. DP – Penns Valley 1 (A. Tobias and Treaster). LOB – Penns Valley 7; Clearfield 6. Sac – Breon; Myers.
Pitching
Penns Valley – M. Tobias 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
Clearfield – Sorbera 6-2/3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K; Walker 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
HB – M. Tobias 2 (Barr, Bender). WP – Sorbera 1.
W – Sorbera (3-2). L – M. Tobias. Save – Walker (1).
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 susp. 1 – 1
4/13 @ Penns Valley 3 – 0 2 – 1
4/14 @ Tyrone 8 – 7 3 – 1
4/16 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA ppd. 3 – 1
4/19 CENTRAL ppd. 3 – 1
4/20 BRADFORD 10 – 3 4 – 1
4/21 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA 5 – 0 5 – 1
4/23 @ Curwensville 7 – 2 6 – 1
4/24 HUNTINGDON ppd. 6 – 1
4/27 @ Bellefonte 8 – 9 6 – 2
4/28 @ Central 3 – 4 6 – 3
4/30 TYRONE 16 – 1 7 – 3
5/01 @ Brookville 14 – 4 8 – 3
5/02 HUNTINGDON 3 – 2 9 – 3
5/03 @ Bald Eagle Area susp. 9 – 3
5/07 CENTRAL ppd. 9 – 3
5/08 PENNS VALLEY 2 – 1 10 – 3
5/09 BELLEFONTE
5/11 @ Philipsburg-Osceola
5/14 DUBOIS
5/15 CURWENSVILLE
5/18 @ Punxsutawney (susp 4/11)