BERWICK, Pa. (EYT) — Much like the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Clarion 12U All-Stars have been going toe to toe with Mother Nature as of late. On Tuesday, rain again postponed the completion of Clarion’s second round winner’s bracket game again Canonsburg as the 1:00 p.m. start time was pushed back until 7:00 p.m.

(Photo: Brayden Murray. Photo by Diane Lutz)

As the weather finally swung in another direction allowing the teams to complete the game that was started Monday, something else swung as well.

Mr. Momentum.

When play finally resumed, Clarion held a commanding 7-1 lead and promptly retired Canonsburg in the bottom of the third.

After Clarion failed to push any runs across the plate in their half of the fourth, Mr. Momentum slowly began to make his move to the home team’s dugout and Canonsburg worked to chip away at the seven-run lead by way of a solo shot to make it 7-2.

Clarion, however, would respond in the top of the fifth as Derek Smail singled home Bryce Brinkley with two outs to push the lead back to six at 8-2.

Canonsburg continued to scratch and claw and was able to push across one more run by way of an error in the home half of the fifth and blanked Clarion in the top of the sixth to take an 8-3 deficit into the bottom of the sixth.

While Clarion was three outs away from the winner’s bracket final, Canonsburg was on the cusp of a comeback that will be remembered by both sides for years to come as that oh so-pesky Mr. Momentum fully aligned himself with the home team.

Clarion was able to retire the first batter of the inning but that would be the only thing that would go right for Clarion in the bottom of the sixth as the next three Canonsburg batters were walked, hit by a pitch, and walked to load the bases. The next Canonsburg batter singled to center scoring two.

8-5.

The very next Canonsburg batter came to the plate and promptly deposited a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield fence.

8-8.

After another walk and strikeout. Canonsburg, for the fourth time, used the long ball to their advantage as a 1-2 Clarion offering was sent over the centerfield fence.

10-8

The walk-off homer completed the comeback for Canonsburg as they moved on to the winners’ bracket final. Clarion, who cannot finish worse than fifth place, will take on Lehigh today at 5 p.m. in the loser’s bracket as it tries to climb back towards the title game the hard way.

Despite the gut-wrenching loss, Clarion managed to collect 13 hits as Derek Smail and Devon Lauer led the way with two hits apiece.