BRADFORD — An outstanding pitching performance by Hunter Dixon and a run-saving defensive play by center fielder Nate Barr enabled the Clearfield Area High School baseball team to squeeze past Bradford 2-1 at the Kissel Sports Complex on the Pitt-Bradford campus Wednesday.
The Bison moved back over .500 at 9-8 with the non-league win that keeps them in the hunt for the top seed in the upcoming District 9 Class AAAA Playoffs as St. Marys (8-7) kept pace by outlasting Punxsutawney (7-9) in an 8-7 squeaker.
Dixon needed only 81 pitches to stymie the Owls for his fourth complete game in five starts and second victory in four decisions.
The sophomore left-hander hurled a seven-hitter with four strikeouts. The Bradford run was unearned.
Losing pitcher Peyton Manion was every bit as tough, for the Bison managed only three hits for the second game in as many days but were able to turn two of his six walks into runs.
Bradford (4-10) broke on top in the first inning after Dixon issued his lone walk. Tyler Gigliotti stole second, advanced to third on Clearfield’s only error and scored on Michael Gow’s groundout.
Manion’s control problems helped the Bison to draw even in the second frame.
He walked Hayden Williams and, after Allan Myers singled, hit Harrison Peacock and walked Cade Walker to force in the run. A forceout at the plate and the Owls’ second twinkilling in as many innings prevented the Bison from grabbing the lead.
They did in the fifth thanks to a pair of misplays. Caullin Reed, aboard on a forceout after Kyle Elensky walked, stole second and continued around the sacks when the throw went into center and then bounced past the outfielder.
The Owls bunched three singles to threaten in the sixth inning, but Barr turned pinch-hitter Patrick Caskey’s fly ball into a double play by throwing out pinch-runner Noah Meyer at the plate.
Dixon had helped himself by picking off a runner in the third inning and got defensive help from Myers in the fifth when the Bison catcher’s throw thwarted Greg Frederick’s attempt to advance on an errant pitch.
Williams had a double for the Bison, who will close their Mountain League season with a home game against Bellefonte Thursday.
CLEARFIELD — 2
Caullin Reed ss 3100, Nate Barr cf 4010, Eli Glass 1b 2000, Hayden Williams 3b 3110, Allan Myers c 4010, Harrison Peacock rf 2000, Cade Walker lf 2001, Hunter Dixon p 2000, Nick Domico ph 0000, Kyle Elensky 2b 2000. TOTALS: 24 2 3 1.
BRADFORD — 1
Tyler Gigliotti ss 2100, Michael Gow 3b-p 3010, Noah Meyer pr 0000, Caleb Nuzzo c 3010, Peyton Manion p-3b 3020, Austin Davis lf 2000, Patrick Caskey ph 1000, Greg Frederick rf 3010, Mitch Baker 1b 1000, Drew Piganelli dh 2000, Isaac Smith cf 3010, Jason French 2b 2010. TOTALS: 25 1 7 1.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 010 010 0 – 2 3 1
Bradford 100 000 0 – 1 7 4
E – Glass; Gow, Nuzzo, Smith, Gigliotti. DP – Clearfield 1 (Barr and Myers); Bradford 2 (Gow, French and Baker; Manion, French and Baker). LOB – Clearfield 9; Bradford 4. 2B – Williams. SB – Reed, Barr; Gigliotti.
Pitching
Clearfield – Dixon 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Bradford – Manion 6-2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 0 K; Gow 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
HB – Manion 2 (Reed, Peacock). PO – Dixon 1 (French).
W – Dixon (2-2). L – Manion.
Bison Scoreboard:
Date Opponent Score Record
3/25 @ Bald Eagle Area 10 – 1 1 – 0
3/28 @ Huntingdon 6 – 8 1 – 1
4/02 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA 1 – 2 1 – 2
4/04 CURWENSVILLE 5 – 2 2 – 2
4/05 @ Tyrone ppd. 2 – 2
4/06 @ Tyrone 2 – 3, 9 inn. 2 – 3
4/08 PENNS VALLEY 6 – 2 3 – 3
4/09 BROOKVILLE 22 – 12 4 – 3
4/11 @ Central 10 – 4 5 – 3
4/16 BELLEFONTE ppd. 5 – 3
4/17 @ Bellefonte 0 – 8 5 – 4
4/18 BALD EAGLE AREA 4 – 2 6 – 4
4/23 HUNTINGDON 6 – 4 7 – 4
4/25 @ Philipsburg-Osceola 3 – 4 7 – 5
4/29 PUNXSUTAWNEY 5 – 6 7 – 6
4/30 TYRONE 3 – 13 7 – 7
5/03 @ Penns Valley 4 – 3 8 – 7
5/06 CENTRAL ppd. 8 – 7
5/07 CENTRAL 5 – 10 8 – 8
5/08 @ Bradford 2 – 1 9 – 8
5/09 BELLEFONTE
5/13 @ Curwensville
5/16 @ DuBois