ST. MARYS, Pa. (D9Sports) — For the first time since its District 9 championship and PIAA Class A runner-up team in 2011, the Clarion Lady Cats are headed back to the District 9 Class A softball championship game following a 4-2 win over Coudersport Wednesday at Benzinger Park in St. Marys.
(Photo of Clarion’s Alexis Constantino ripping one of her two hits Wednesday. Submitted photo)
“I feel good for the girls that we are playing meaningful games again this year,” Clarion manager Dan Shofestall said. “we’ve gone through a couple of tough years, and they’re playing competitive again.”
With the win, Clarion (15-7), will play either top-seeded DuBois Central Catholic or fifth-seeded A-C Valley in the title game next week at a site, time and date to be determined. DCC and A-C Valley play their semifinal game at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Brockway High School. The win also secures a PIAA playoff berth for the Lady Cats, who have won nine in a row.
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On Wednesday, thanks in large part to a three-run sixth inning, Clarion led 4-0 going to the bottom of the sixth and then overcame a pair of Sydney Kiser errors to hold off a Coudersport comeback attempt.
The Lady Cats grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a two-out single to right by Kiser in the second that scored Alexis Constantino from second.
Clarion then added three runs in the top of the sixth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Constantino and Maya Thornton, and another RBI single by Kiser.
Coudersport fought back plating two runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to some shaky Clarion defense and some heads-up baserunning.
Joplin Osgood for the rally started when she reached third on an error by Kiser, the centerfielder. She came home on an RBI groundout by Bianca Rousell-Gooch.
Macy Gleason then singled to center and went all the way to third on another error by Kiser before scoring on a Shaelyn Black groundout.
But Black’s groundout started a string of five in a row retired by Sadie Rudesyle to finish the game for the Lady Cats.
Rudesyle threw a complete-game three-hitter allowing two unearned runs. She walked one and struck out seven.
Constantino, Thornton and Kiser, the six, seven and eight hitters in the lineup, each had two hits for Clarion with Constantino going 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI, Thornton 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI and Kiser 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Osgood was 1-for-3 with a run scored for Coudersport.
EmmaRae Easton took the loss allowing four runs, two earned, on seven hits and a walk while striking out three.
Coudersport ended the season 13-5.
