Somerset blanks Clearfield for 1st district championship since 2014
DuBOIS — For the first time since 2014, the Somerset baseball team can call itself champions as they took down Clearfield 3-0, to claim the District 5-8-9 Class 4A subregional title Tuesday at Showers Field in DuBois.
Somerset pitcher Aiden VanLenten threw a complete game two-hitter, striking out five while not surrendering a walk in the contest.
"Aiden VanLenten, I told the guys before the game that big time players step up in big time games," said Somerset coach Jimmy Mayer. "What more can you say about his performance today? By far the best game he's thrown all year. Tons of ground balls. His two-seamer was working. No walks and then we played clean baseball behind him. I told the guys if we play clean baseball and get some timely hits, we're going to have a great shot today. I couldn't be more proud of the way he pitched today."
What it means
Somerset earned its first district championship under Mayer and ninth in program history.
Key plays
VanLenten got out of a jam in the bottom of the first inning as Clearfield's Kyle Elensky led off the game with a double and got to third with just one out. From there, VanLenten got Morgen Billotte to ground out to the mound, freezing Elensky at third for the second out. VanLenten struck out Blake Prestash to end the inning.
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There was just one other Bison baserunner the entire day in Cole Bloom, who singled and then got caught in a double-play in the fifth inning.
By the numbers
There were only seven total hits on the day with Somerset outhitting Clearfield 5-2. Bryce Mulhollen and Ethan Hemminger had the two RBIs of the day, with a single and a sac bunt, respectively. As they did in the semifinal matchup, Somerset was error-free on the day while Clearfield had two errors — one of which allowed the third and final run to score.
"We only needed one today," Mayer said. "The guys battled at the plate for me today and that's all I ask for. We hit some balls hard right at guys. We left some guys in scoring position and had a few blunders on the bases, but the way Aiden was throwing today ... I knew if we could get one or two runs, it might be enough. Man, he was awesome today."
Unsung heroes
Shortstop Brad Bruner and second baseman Kahne Foltz had four putouts each. Bruner had a diving stop to get Clearfield's Nolan Barr out in the bottom of the seventh. Riggs struck out but reached base on a passed ball, later scoring the second run of the third inning.
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What's next
Somerset (15-7) will face WPIAL champion West Mifflin, a 5-4 winner over Montour, Monday in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A tournament.
"It only gets harder from here," Mayer said. "We've got the WPIAL champs in the first round. But I like our chances. We're a very tight-knit group. These guys want to win for each other. That's the most important thing.
"When we get a performance like that from Aiden, again, you never know. The way our infield defense has been playing and with his two-seamer working, you get a ton of ground balls and they're making every play. So I'm looking forward to it and looking forward to the experience. I can't wait to get back out there. "
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This article originally appeared on The Daily American: VanLenten pitches gem, Somerset captures district gold
