Bald Eagle captures Mountain League title with nail biting win over Bellefonte

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 17, 2021

By Kenny Varner

MILESBURG – The rivalry lived up to the hype.

Bellefonte returned to seek redemption from its early season loss to the Bald Eagle Area softball team Monday as it had the Mountain League title on the line.

It was also a showdown of phenom pitchers as Bald Eagle hurler Maddie Peters went up against Bellefonte’s Lexi Rogers.

The Bald Eagle bats came out early, posting four early runs.

Bellefonte made a late game rally before falling by the slimiest of margins, 4-3.

With the sweep of the Lady Raiders, the Lady Eagles clinched the Mountain League title and will host the first round of District 6 playoffs on Monday.

“This was probably the first time this year we played a complete game. Obviously, every game we play against them (Bellefonte) it’s been decided by one or two runs,” said Bald Eagle coach Don Lucas. “Today it was all about who stroked the ball the best. Honestly, we did a great job at hitting the ball.

The Raiders will finish its regular season Tuesday against Huntingdon before hosting a District 6 playoff game of their own Thursday.

“We dug ourselves a hole in the first couple of innings. They got ahead 4-0 early. This is a good team (Bald Eagle). It’s hard to fight to come back. It takes a lot of effort,” said Bellefonte coach Travis Foster. “We clawed our way back into it. We got within one late and we just couldn’t push another one across. Credit to Bald Eagle, they came out hot. They came out swinging the ball well.”

Bald Eagle came out in the bottom of the first and plated two.

With one out, McKena Baney walked. Her time on base was temporary as she was brought home on Ava Stere’s blast into right centerfield.

Stere moved up to third when Peters bounced into a fielder’s choice.

Standing on third, Stere made the most of a wild pitch and was called safe at the plate running home.

Peters and company held the Raiders at bay, going into the bottom of the inning with a 2-0 advantage.

Maddie Eckley led off the second inning, singling to center.

Eckley moved up to second on a text book sacrifice bunt by Mara Hockenberry.

Stere again answered when called upon as she sent a sacrifice fly to bring home Eckley.

After a scoreless third, which was highlighted by Bellefonte catcher Maddy Tice gunning down a Bald Eagle runner trying to steal second.

The highlights didn’t just belong to the Raiders in the inning as Bald Eagle shortstop Maddie Perry’s diving catch of a sizzling grounder robbing Madison Melius of single.

Bald Eagle was back at it offensively on the fourth.

It was de ja vue as Baney walked and was brought home by another double by Stere, upping the Bald Eagle lead to 4-0.

But in the fifth, the Red Raiders scraped and clawed their way back, posting a 3-run inning.

With two early outs, the Bellefonte offense started to sizzle.

Melius led things off with a single into right.

Lead off hitter Lily Gardner walked, setting the stage for Tori Reichert.

Reichert smashed a gapper into right field, scoring Gardner and Melius, cutting the lead to 4-2.

Lexi Rogers picked up a hard earned RBI when she smack a dribbler and slid into first, allowing Rogers to alertly score from second.

But that would be as close to tying the game as the Red Raiders would get, as Peters was able to keep the bases limited for the win.

Bald Eagle Area 4, Bellefonte 3

BEL 000 030 0 – 3 7 2

BEA 210 100 x – 4 4 2