HYDE — The Clearfield Area High School softball team couldn\’t have picked a better way to start the season.
After having two games postponed because of weather, the Lady Bisons appeared in mid-season form, not a team that had only two outside practices, as they rang up a 2-0 shutout against District 9 rival and 2006 PIAA Class AAA runner-up Punxsutawney at the Bison Sports Complex Thursday.
Sophomore Mandy Rowles authored a three-hitter with five strikeouts and senior Nikki Collins ripped the game-winning hit in the statement game for the Lady Bisons, who lost to the Lady Chucks twice last season, including a 2-1 heartbreaker in the District 9 championship game.
\”It\’s a nice stepping stone,\” said a very happy coach Bob Dixon after the post-game meeting with his players. \”It gives the girls some confidence.
\”It\’s a heck of a way to start your season, the team that was second in the state. They deserved what they got last year. I know their coaching staff. They work hard. And they (Lady Chucks) play hard. They were out to win this ball game down to the last out. And they have the talent to do it. They have a lot of kids back.\”
Punxsy\’s key returnee is Brooke Callen, who pitched three shutouts to get the Lady Chucks (21-3) into the state title game last season after beating the Lady Bisons for the school\’s first district crown in seven years.
Callen limited Clearfield to five hits and one earned run while striking out eight, but she lost this duel because Rowles exhibited very good control, walking only one and going to a three-ball count to only one other Lady Chuck.
\”She did a great job,\” Dixon said. \”(She) located the ball, moved the ball in and out, up and down. We stress pitching and defense. When you have a pitcher like that and our defense plays like it can, we\’ll be in every game.\”
Rowles and Callen dominated the opposing lineups the first time through before the leadoff batters broke up the no-hitters in the third inning, Punxsy\’s Nicole Capella with a grounder through the middle and Clearfield\’s Alanna Luzier with a fly ball double into left center.
The heart of the Clearfield lineup came through in the fourth inning. Brittany Pataky lined a single to center, Rowles poked a hit to right center and Collins rammed a shot past first baseman Samantha Rietz to plate Pataky, who slid around Cappella for the run. Rowles reached third, but she was cut down at home when Lady Chuck leftfielder Allie Miller turned Alyssa Anderson\’s fly ball into a double play with a strong throw to Cappella, who blocked the plate and made a difficult catch and tag.
\”I think one through six, we\’re as solid as anybody,\” Dixon said. \”They are veterans. They hit the ball hard and they hit it well. And often. We were kind of afraid, not being outside, what to expect. You see the girls hitting in the cage, in the building and in the fieldhouse, they look like gangbusters. But you always worry when you step outside. Sometimes, it\’s like they turn off the buttons.\”
That run was all Rowles needed, for Punxsy (1-1) had only one runner reach third base. Angie Burke, running for Kelsey McFarland after a Lady Bison miscue in the sixth, advanced on Lauren Martin\’s line single to center and Callen\’s flyout to right. However, Burke and Martino were stranded when Clearfield first baseman Pataky grabbed Katie Baun\’s low liner.
Dixon admitted he was more than a little concerned that frame.
\”It\’s not that I\’m not confident in Mandy, but that\’s a good ball team,\” he said. \”That\’s Punxsutawney. They\’re good. They beat Bellefonte, and Bellefonte\’s a solid team.\”
Then, the Lady Bisons tacked on the insurance run when Ashley Lias laced a single to right center and scored as Collins\’ two-out fly along the right field line was dropped and the throw to the infield was errant.
\”I think you saw two good teams out here tonight,\” Dixon said. \”I know we\’ll see them a lot more than I want to see them.\”
May 8 is the date for the return game at Punxsy, but chances are very good the Lady Bisons also will see the Lady Chucks again with the District 9-AAA championship on the line.
Clearfield\’s next two games are with Brookville, at home Monday and on the road April 12.
The Lady Bisons\’ game at Curwensville that was postponed March 23 has been rescheduled for Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m.
PUNXSUTAWNEY — 0
Nicole Cappella c 3010, Kelsey McFarland 2b 3000, Angie Burke pr 0000, Lauren Martino 3b 3010, Brooke Callen p 3000, Katie Baun ss 2000, Samantha Reitz 1b 2000, Tina Elgin ph 1000, Allie Miller lf 3010, Noelle Janocha rf 2000, Gina Orcutt ph 1000, Jessica Slagle cf 3000. Totals: 26 0 3 0.
CLEARFIELD — 2
Alanna Luzier 2b 3010, Ashley Lias cf 3110, Brittany Pataky 1b 2110, Mandy Rowles p 3010, Nikki Collins ss 3011, Alyssa Anderson rf 3000, Kenzie McGovern c 2000, Sara Kovalick lf 2000, Megan Butler 3b 2000. Totals: 23 2 5 1.
Score by Innings:
Punxsutawney 000 000 0 — 0 3 3
Clearfield 000 101 x — 2 5 2
Errors – Reitz, Janocha 2; Collins, Butler. PB – Cappella 1. DP – Punxsutawney 1. LOB – Punxsutawney 6; Clearfield 4. 2B – Luzier. SB – Cappella, Baun; Collins.
Pitching
Punxsutawney – Callen 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K.
Clearfield – Rowles 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K.
HB – Callen 1 (Pataky).
W – Rowles (1-0. L – Callen (1-1).
