State College game April 1st

Bisons defeat Little Lions, 5-4, for first time since 1998 The Clearfield Bison baseball team played a cruel joke on the AAAA State College Little Lions by upsetting the defending CPL champs at the Bison Sports Complex on April Fools Day. Entering the bottom of the 7th in a 4-4 deadlock, the Red and Black squeaked out the winning run via Shane Harper’s walk, Justyn Knepp’s perfect sacrifice bunt, and a clutch double by Jarrett Fulmer.

Bison Hurlers Trevor Flanagan and Chad Zurat held the powerful State line up at bay over seven innings, despite surrendering three dingers.  Clearfield catcher Andrew Redden did some damage with a two run homer in the first and an rbi single in the third. The other Bison run came across on a Knepp fielder’s choice in the fourth. Fulmer had two hits on the day.

Clearfield’s defense came up with several key plays to save the victory.  A State College runner was gunned down at the plate in the sixth inning when right fielder Justin Hoffman fired a perfect throw to first baseman Luke Peterson, who relayed the ball to Redden. A sweet 4-6-3 double play in the fifth(Fulmer to Danver to Peterson) saved a run, and Tyler Jacobson literally “took one on the chin” in the third inning. He knocked down the hard smash by Shane Regal and was able to record the force out, preventing at least one run.

It was a key CPL victory for the Bisons, who are now 1-1 going into an important D9 match up at Bradford on Thursday, before entertaining CPL opponent Altoona on Friday.