BELLEFONTE — Entering the final week of the regular season, the Clearfield Bison were looking to make a last push before the postseason, and in order to do so they had to continue their winning ways after a come-from-behind 6-3 triumph over Central last week. To do so, it meant a trip for a second showdown against the Red Raiders of Bellefonte.
A pitcher’s battle is what fans received on Monday, with neither side willing to yield easily. Bellefonte, however, had the more solid pitching afternoon, and managed to plate a single run, handing Clearfield a 1-0 loss that could have gone either way.
Bellefonte’s Zach Lehman got the nod on the afternoon to pitch against the Bison, and his performance was literally short of perfection. He would finish just under 100 pitches, hurling the entire afternoon. Nine batters for Clearfield would strike out, but a walk of designated hitter Christian Welker took away the perfect afternoon. Clearfield took away the no-hitter in the fourth inning, as Braison Patrick took a 1-2 pitch on the ground to third, beating the throw to first. Unfortunately, one batter later, O’Brian Owens would connect on the first pitch, but it landed in the glove of Cameron Lucas, who quickly tossed to Peyton Vancas at second, and then to Caleb Auman at first for a 4-6-3 double play that kept Clearfield off the board.
By contrast, it was not a bad afternoon for Clearfield pitcher Craig Mays. He would go the entire distance as well for the Bison, pitching six innings and striking out four. However, it was he that took the loss on the afternoon, with all the trouble coming in the second inning.
After walking Lehman, who then was relieved with running duties by Isaac Gall, Lucas singled into left, allowing Gall to make his way to third and put runners on the corners. A walk to Auman then loaded the bases for Braeden Fortney.
The 1-0 pitch was struck to left field, where Noah Wriglesworth made the catch. Gall tagged up and Bellefonte’s coach directed him to be ready to run. The throw went from left to home, but the tag came too late, as Gall would cross the plate for the winning run.
Now, Clearfield (9-10) has only one game remaining on the regular season as they will head to Punxsutawney on Wednesday afternoon, with a slated start of 4:30 p.m.
SCORE BY INNING
Clearfield 000 000 0 – 0 1 1
Bellefonte 010 000 X – 1 3 0
Clearfield – 0
Kam Kushner-cf 3000, Braison Patrick-ss 3010, O’Brian Owens-3b 3000, Colton Bumbarger-c 3000, Noah Wriglesworth-lf 2000, Christian Welker-dh 1000, Craig Mays-p 2000, Matt Irvin-1b 2000, Connor Peacock-2b 1000, Jayce Brothers-ph/2b 1000. TOTALS 21 0 1 0.
Bellefonte – 1
Peyton Vancas-ss 3010, Parker Capparelle-cf 3000, Evan Mattern-3b 2010, Oliver Thornburg-c 3000, Zach Lehman-p 2000, Isaac Gall-cr 0100, Cameron Lucas-2b 2010, Caleb Auman-1b 1000, Braeden Fortney-lf 1001, Carsen Henry-rf 2000. TOTALS 19 1 3 1.
SF: Fortney
SB: Vancas, Mattern
CS: Lucas
E: Mays
Pitching
- Clearfield: Mays-6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 SO, 3 BB.
- Bellefonte: Lehman-7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 9 SO, 1 BB.
W-Lehman
L-Mays (3-2)
Clearfield Baseball Scoreboard
03/18: at Central 14 – 8, 1 – 0
03/20: BELLEFONTE ppd, 1 – 0
03/21: BELLEFONTE 0 – 10, 1 – 1
03/25: BISHOP GUILFOYLE 6 – 5, 2 – 1
03/27: TYRONE 5 – 8, 2 – 2
04/01: at Hollidaysburg 7 – 8, 2 – 3
04/04: at Somerset 1 – 16, 2 – 4
04/08: HUNTINGDON ppd. 2 – 4
04/11: FOREST HILLS ppd. 2 – 4
04/14: at Philipsburg-Osceola 3 – 9, 2 – 5
04/16: BELLWOOD-ANTIS ppd. 2 – 5
04/17: FOREST HILLS 3 – 13, 2 – 6
04/22: at Penns Valley 11 – 0, 3 – 6
04/24: DUBOIS 6 – 4, 4 – 6
04/26: BELLWOOD-ANTIS ppd. 4 – 6
04/28: BALD EAGLE AREA 2 – 1, 5 – 6
04/29: BELLWOOD-ANTIS 5 – 9, 5 – 7
04/30: BRADFORD 10 – 3, 6 – 7
05/01: HUNTINGDON 3 – 4, 6 – 8
05/02: BISHOP CARROLL 10 – 0, 7 – 8
05/05: at Greater Johnstown 15 – 10, 8 – 8
05/07: ST. MARYS 2 – 6, 8 – 9
05/09: CENTRAL 6 – 3, 9 – 9
05/12: at Bellefonte 0 – 1, 9 – 10
05/14: at Punxsutawney
