14U RailSplitters starts strong in weekend Future Stars tournament

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 25, 2025

Photos by Tim Weight

UNIVERSITY PARK – Saturday the local baseball fields were alive with the sounds of cracking bats, as the Future Stars baseball teams took to action as they kicked off in the Centre County diamonds across the area.

More than 51 teams participated in the weekend long tournaments.

Locally, the 14U RailSplitters were one of those such teams.

The group that consisted of travel team players from Penns Valley, Huntingdon, Bald Eagle Area and Williamsport had strong first day showing going 2-0 on the day.

After a successful opener against that saw the RailSplitters defeat the Flood City State College team 7-2, the group then took the center stage at Medlar Field (the home of the State College Spikes) for an afternoon matinee.

The RailSplitters came out victorious over the Thoroughbreds 6-0 in seven.

Leading the offense for the RailSplitters was Riley Bucha with a 2-for-3 afternoon while Garrett Lorson posted a 1-for-3 game while picking up 2 RBIs. Other players picking up hits for the Splitters were Isaac Johnson, Wyatt Stimer, Lincoln Shouey, Grant Guyer and Takoda Ripka.

Pitcher Bucha and his RailSplitters defense were tough on the Thoroughbreds bats as he tossed a 2-hitter en route to the victory.

Starting out Thoroughbreds hurler Carter Launer started out just as strong not allowing a RailSplitters’ hit until the third inning.

After two and a half innings of strong defense, the RailSplitters started off the scoring, posting run in the bottom of the third.

Ripka got the inning started with a single into right field.

Guyer followed with a single, moving Ripka into scoring position.

With runners on first and second, Shouey layed down a sacrifice bunt that was overthrown after he had reached first. The overthrow allowed Ripka to score from second, making it a 1-0 advantage.

The Thoroughbreds defense held from there keeping the damage to a minimum.

Both defenses were able to hold their own in the fourth, the only hit was from Bucha in the bottom of the inning.

With the game still locked in as a nail biting thriller, the RailSplitters came up big in the sixth to ice the game.

Stimer got the sixth going as he blasted a single into left field. He was moved to second on a Jameson Shawver sacrifice bunt.

Leadoff hitter Isaac Johnson continued the rally as he walked to put runners on the corners, setting the stage for Lorson.

Lorson did not disappoint as he sent a blast deep down the left field line for a stand up double, scoring both teammates on the play and adding to the RailSplitters’ lead.

Bucha followed suit as he brought in Lorson on a double of his own, making it a 4-0 advantage. Johnson followed with a single and moved up a base on a Thoroughbred miscue, making it a 5-0 ball game.