SHINGLEHOUSE, Pa. (D9Sports) — A seven-run third inning helped lift Oswayo Valley back to the District 9 title game for the fourth straight season with a 10-0, five-inning win over visiting North Clarion.
(Photo of Oswayo Valley’s Garren Black. Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)
Already up 3-0 after three-run second, the top-seeded Green Wave 11 men to the plate in the third with eight in a row reaching after one out.
Theo Henry had an RBI single, an error scored a second run, another error scored a third run, a fourth run came home on a bases-loaded walk to Camden Graves, one of three walks issued in the inning by North Clarion, Garren Black roped a two-run double to center and Gavin Babcock hit a sac fly to close out the scoring.
That was plenty of runs for Black, who yielded just two hits in getting the win for the defending champions.
He went five innings walking one and striking out seven.
Sam Minich had a double and Matson Higgins a single for the fifth-seeded Wolves who were trying to pull an upset for the second day in a row after beating Elk County Catholic Wednesday.
Zander Hargenrader took the loss going 2 ⅓ innings giving up 10 runs, eight earned, on six hits and five walks while striking out two. Devon Walters pitched ⅔ of an inning allowing a hit, and Zyler Hargenrader pitched a scoreless fourth.
Oswayo Valley will face DuBois Central Catholic in the title game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Showers Field in DuBois. The Cardinals beat Oswayo Valley for the D9 1A title two years ago. Oswayo Valley also clinched a PIAA playoff berth with the win.
North Clarion will face Clarion-Limestone in the consolation game at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Showers Field. The winner of that game will then face the winner of the District 10 title game between Kennedy Catholic and Jamestown Thursday, May 31, for a PIAA playoff berth.
DuBois Central Catholic 11, Clarion-Limestone 1, 5 innings
DUBOIS, Pa. — Behind a 3-for-3 day from Damon Foster, DuBois Central Catholic returned to the District 9 championship game for the second time in three seasons with an 11-1, five-inning win over visiting Clarion-Limestone at Showers Field in DuBois.
Foster had a double, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Cardinals, who had 15 hits in the game off of two Lions pitchers.
Justin Miknis was also 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs for second-seeded DCC with Tyler McIntosh going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Anthony Kness added a pair of hits and a run scored for the Cardinals.
Noah Bloom and Kness combined on a two-hitter with Bloom getting the win going three innings allowing an unearned run on two hits and three walks while striking out one. Kness allowed a walk in his two innings of relief.
Ian Hawthorn and Cam Hankey had the hits for sixth-seeded C-L, which was playing for the second time in 24 hours on the road after upsetting Clarion Wednesday. Drew Beichner walked and scored a run for the Lions.
Curvin Goheen took the loss going four innings allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits and a hit batter. Christian Smith went ⅔ of an inning giving up six runs, four earned, on six hits and a walk while striking out one.
DCC will face Oswayo Valley for the second time in three years in the title game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Showers Field in DuBois. DCC beat Oswayo Valley for the title in 2016. With the win, the Cardinals also secure a PIAA playoff berth.
C-L will take on North Clarion in the consolation game at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Showers Field. The winner of that game will then face the winner of the District 10 title game between Kennedy Catholic and Jamestown Thursday, May 31, for a PIAA playoff berth.
