Observer-Reporter Athlete of the Week
Name: Gage Clark
School: Jefferson-Morgan
Sport: Baseball
Class: Senior
Clark’s week: When the games mattered most in the last week of the season, Clark was at his best. Clark helped the Rockets win four times, including two crucial games against Greensburg Central Catholic, to wrap up the Section 2-A title and earn a No. 4 seed in the WPIAL playoffs.
Clark went 2-for-2 with a double and four RBI and won his sixth straight on the mound in a 10-8 victory over Greensburg Central Catholic to clinch the section title and spark a celebration.
“I always wanted to win a section title,” said Clark, a left-handed pitcher who has offers from Penn State Fayette and Geneva and hopes to attract a Division I or II school with a strong playoff showing.
“I caught the fly ball for the last out of the game and the feeling was amazing. We gave the game ball to Coach Curtis, then we dumped the water bucket on him.”
In two games leading up to the GCC showdown, Clark went 3-for-3 – a single, double and triple – with four RBI in a 12-2 rout of Monessen and went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs and two RBI in a 12-2 victory over Mapletown.
“We get a lot of players who play baseball. Gage is a baseball player,” said Curtis, the Rockets head coach. “He’s a pitcher, he’s a hitter and a good defensive player. He’s kind of the glue to this team. If we need a good game on the mound, if we need a play in the outfield, a pick at first, a hit or stolen base, he’s always there.”
Clark is hitting .428 with 26 runs, six doubles, four triples, 18 RBI and 17 stolen bases. He has 61 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings.
Emotional moment: The second meeting against Greensburg Central Catholic was a difficult day. The team learned before the game Jefferson-Morgan superintendent Donna M. Furnier, who was well known in the district, died.
Clark said her death was a shock but that the team got closer because of it.
“I knew her all my life,” said Clark. “We knew she was there, at the game, watching over us.”
Curtis said his leadership in that situation was a boost.
“We had to meet with the kid, and he is one of our tri-captains along with Isaac Dean and Eli Rafail,” said Curtis. “He said we want this section for ourselves, we don’t want ties, and we’re going to win this for Mrs. Furnier.”
Mission accomplished.
Compiled by Joe Tuscano