Bald Eagle softball tops Scrappy Penns Valley Rams

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: April 17, 2024

Photo by Tim Weight
By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – They meet again!

Two familiar foes renewed acquaintances Wednesday when Bald Eagle Area hosted Penns Valley in softball action.

The two former Mountain League opponents wasted little time getting the action started posting runs early.

But in the end, the Eagles were able to manufacture enough runs to defeat a spirited effort by the Lady Rams 5-2.

Two ace pitchers had their pitches working as the Bald Eagles’ Sierra Albright and Penns Valley hurler Taylor Bumgardner combined for 21 strike outs. Albright struck out 14 while Bumgardner finished with seven.

Bald Eagle finished with two hitters with multiple hits. Alyssa King went 2-for-3,2RBIs while Kailey Eckert 2-for-3 RBI, run while Penns Valley’s Scotty Dinges finished with two hits as well.

“Albright’s a very seasoned pitcher. She pitched herself out of some jams. We made a couple of mental mistakes that got us in the hole,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Don Lucas. “But we rallied and steadied the ship.”

Penns Valley threatened first, loading the bases in the top of the first.

Leadoff hitter Scotty Dinges led off with a hit back the middle.

Elle Dinges hustled out a bunt attempt. Scotty Dinges moved up to third on an Eagle miscue on the play.

With one out, Sydney Dalton put down a bunt. Trying to catch Dinges at third, Bald Eagle was unsuccessful, loading the bases.

Sydney Dalton walked home Scotty Dinges while teammate Gracie Riddle was hit by a pitch to score Elle Dinges, giving their team a 2-0 advantage going into the bottom of the inning.

“We had some runners on tonight. I thought we competed against a good team,” said Penns Valley coach Terry Bumgardner. “I thought we had some opportunities we could have really gotten back into the game.”

Albright struck out 2-of-3 to kept the damage to a minimum.

In the bottom of the inning the Eagles battled back cutting the lead in half.

Kailey Eckert led off with a blooping double into left field. Eckert moved up to third via a wild pitch.

Addisyn Burns bounced into a RBI fielders’ choice, scoring Eckert.

The Lady Rams threatened again in the second posting runners on first and second with no one out.

Cool under pressure, Albright took care of the Penns Valley batters by collecting strike out five and six, keeping it at a 2-1 contest.

Back rallied the Lady Eagles in the bottom of the second, Sydney Thompson blasted a shot that tipped off the shortstops glove for the single.

Alexa Baney joined Thompson on base with a walk.

Alyssa King brought both in with a one hopper off the right field fence, taking the lead 3-2.

Bald Eagle wasn’t done yet, plating another run In the third.

Shae Housel walked to lead off the inning.

Her time on base was a short one when teammate Ava Stere blasted a liner in the gap between left and center.

Things continued to roll the Lady Eagles’ way as again in the fourth, the bats continued to fall.

Taylor Habovick opened the fourth with a bunt single.

King landed her second hit of the game on a blooping single just over the head of the first baseman. King was replaced by pinch runner Casey Angellotti.

Both runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch.

However, Bumgardner and company kept the Eagles off the board. Bumgardner notched strike out four and five, posting two outs and forced a fly out to end the threat.

Bald Eagle added an insurance run in the sixth

Penns Valley refused to go down quietly, getting runners on first and second. But the Eagles would close Penns Valley down en route to the 5-2 victory.

Bald Eagle Area 5, Penns Valley 0

PV 200 000 0 – 2 3 2

BEA 1 21 001. x – 5 6 2

WP: Sierra Albright

LP: Taylor Bumgardner

Multiple Hits: PV – Scotty Dinges 2-for-3. None. BEA – Alyssa King 2-for-3,2RBIs , Kailey Eckert 2-for-3 RBI, run .

HR: PV – None. BEA – None.

3B: PV – None. BEA – None.

2B: PV – None. BEA – Ava Stere, Kailey Eckert (2).