Bryson Huwar fights through injury, delivers for Clarion-Limestone in 8-5 win over Union in PIAA baseball Class 1A playoffs

“I was like ‘oh you want to see me, I will show you what I can do,’” Huwar said.

NEW CASTLE, Pennsylvania – Clarion-Limestone senior Bryson Huwar stood on third base and let out a mighty roar. He had just hit a two-run double that gave the Lions two insurance runs in the eighth inning of an 8-5 win over Union in a first round game of the PIAA Class 1A playoffs.

“It was literally all emotion,” Huwar said. “We have only done this one time in history, C-L has only won one playoff game. It’s just incredible to be a part of something like this.”

But to get to that point, the Lions had to keep overcoming the comeback attempts by Union. The Scotties had tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning at 3-3 after Clarion led 3-0 following three runs in the third.

Both teams each scored a run in the sixth and the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

And then came the top of the eighth.

Kohen Kemmer led off with a walk and then scored when Logan Lutz laid down what should have been a sacrifice bunt. But Union threw the ball into right field and Kemmer came around to score while Lutz went to second.

And now Clarion scores on a bunt and error ti take a 6-5 lead T8. This game is bananas. pic.twitter.com/7uN06Ck772

— Ryan (@Isley23) June 6, 2022

Union decided to intentionally walk Tommy Smith, who had already collected three hits on the day and had hit the ball hard even in the at-bat where he made an out.

That set the stage for Huwar, who responded by lacing a ball over the head of the centerfielder for a double and two more runs for the Lions.

A 2 run double by Bryson Huwar makes it 8-5 Clarion T8. pic.twitter.com/7TLj4ceDO6

— Ryan (@Isley23) June 6, 2022

“It gave me some incentive when they intentionally walked Tommy,” Huwar said. “I was like ‘oh you want to see me, I will show you what I can do.’”

Getting those two insurance runs was key for the Lions, as Union was sending the middle of its order to the plate in the bottom of the eighth, including Mark Stanley who had already homered earlier in the game. Even with the three runs in the eighth, Clarion coach Todd Smith was still sweating it out.

“They are a scary team,” coach Smith said. “They didn’t win the WPIAL for nothing. They are a really good baseball team. I never felt comfortable because I know what they can do.”

Tommy Smith then took to the mound and shut down the Scotties in order to finish the game and send the Lions to the quarterfinals, where they will play Southern Fulton on Thursday. Smith, a sophomore, came into the game to pitch the final three innings for Clarion and despite giving up two runs, he did what Clarion needed him to do.

“Tommy came in for relief and he was shoving,” Huwar said. “Props to him, he’s a good athlete.”

Tommy Smith had relieved Huwar on the mound after Huwar threw 109 pitches in five innings. But it looked like Huwar may not have been able to make it back to the bump for the fifth.

He hit a single in the top of the inning and injured himself as he rounded first base. He hurt his knee and his hip on the play and was helped off the field by the athletic trainer.

That wouldn’t going to keep the St. Bonaventure commit out of the game, however. He came out and pitched the fifth inning but wasn’t himself because he could not plant. He gave up three runs in the inning but stranded a runner on second with the game tied when he picked up his eighth strikeout of the game to end the inning.

“It was hurting a little bit,” Huwar said. “The adrenaline helped a little bit. I needed to dig deep for my team there.”

The senior dug deep there and then once again in the eighth inning with the double.

“I wouldn’t have had it finish in any different way,” coach Smith said.