DUBOIS, Pa. — Clarion faced off against California (PA) in a doubleheader on Saturday at Stern Field, falling 14–4 in the first game and 13–2 in the second.
In the second game,
Randy Carlo broke the program's single-season home run record with his 12th blast of the season. He broke Scotty McManamon's previous single-season record of 11 home runs set during the 2023 campaign, and now sits just one home run behind McManamon's career record of 22 home runs at Clarion.
Game 1: California (PA) 14, Clarion 4
In the first game, the Golden Eagles managed two home runs, but the Vulcans scored seven runs in the fifth inning to secure the victory. Cal took an early lead in the first inning with four runs. Charlie Nigut's solo home run opened the scoring, followed by Connor Evans scoring on Cole Fleck's double. A sacrifice fly by Brandon McClain-Banks brought home another run, concluding the inning with Cal leading 4–0.
Clarion responded in the third inning. Zach Colangelo singled and advanced to third on a subsequent single by
Randy Carlo. Colangelo scored on a throwing error, bringing the score to 4–1 after the third inning. Cal extended its lead in the fourth, adding two more runs. Ikon Jones' single into the left field corner scored both Nigut and Evans. The Golden Eagles answered in the bottom of the inning with
Jacob Patterson's two-run homer to left field, closing the gap to 6–3.
The fifth inning saw the Vulcans widen their lead significantly with a seven-run frame. Evans added an RBI single, and Jones hit a four-run homer, putting the visitors ahead 13–3. In the sixth, California added another run with a single by Peyton Ford, while Clarion's
Brayden Foster homered in the bottom of the inning, updating the score to 14–4.
Game 2: California (PA) 13, Clarion 2
Carlo's historic home run came in the fifth inning with a runner aboard. Facing a 1-2 count, he drilled a pitch over the fence in left field for his 12th home run of the season and 21st in his Clarion career.
The Vulcans took an early lead in the first inning, as Connor Evans grounded out to third base, allowing Chad Helwich to score an unearned run. The score was 1–0 after the first inning. In the fourth inning, Cal extended its lead with a significant offensive performance. Colin Patterson launched what appeared to be a grand slam home run, but he was ruled out when it was determined he failed to touch home plate. Still, Patterson was credited with a three-run triple, clearing the bases and pushing the Vulcans' lead upward. Peyton Ford and Connor Evans each contributed with an RBI, pushing the score to 6–0.
Clarion responded in the fifth inning with the two-run home run by
Randy Carlo, bringing home Zach Colangelo and cutting the lead to 10–2. The Golden Eagles got no closer, though, and the Vulcans tacked on three more runs to set the final deficit.
