The Clarion-Limestone Lions are taking a road trip to challenge the St. Marys Flying Dutch at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Clarion-Limestone will be looking to extend their current three-game winning streak.
While Clarion-Limestone's win against Cranberry Area wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Lions sure made it a nail-biter, but they managed to escape with a 4-3 victory over the Berries on Wednesday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Lions have posted against the Berries since May 9, 2016.
Logan Lutz
| 04/24/25 vs Johnsonburg | 3 |
| 03/27/25 vs Redbank Valley | 3 |
| 05/07/25 vs Cranberry Area | 2 |
| 05/05/25 @ North Clarion | 1 |
| 04/17/25 vs Union/Allegheny-Clarion Valley | 1 |
| + 3 more games |
Logan Lutz made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he struck out ten batters over 6.2 innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits. Lutz was also big at the plate, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one double. He has become a key player for Clarion-Limestone: the team is 2-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 3-7 otherwise.
Lutz wasn't the only one making solid contact as four players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Kohen Kemmer, who went 1-for-3 with one triple and one run.
Meanwhile, St. Marys beat Clearfield 6-2 on Wednesday.
Like Clarion-Limestone, St. Marys also got a great game from a two-way player: Ben Paul. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only two hits over four innings pitched. Paul was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Mason Nicklas, who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one double. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. TYSEN BEIMEL was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
St. Marys hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least four batters in four consecutive matches.
The victory got St. Marys back to even at 8-8. As for Clarion-Limestone, their record is now 5-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Friday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Clarion-Limestone has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.3 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like St. Marys struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.1 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Clarion-Limestone couldn't quite get it done against St. Marys in their previous matchup back in April as they fell 11-6. Can the Lions avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
