Bellefonte 12Us score late; tops State College

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: July 8, 2023

By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – Pitching took center stage Saturday when State College met up with Bellefonte in 12U All-Star action. Both pitchers allowed only one hit apiece through four innings in the scoreless contest.

The Red Raiders broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, posting six runs en route to the 6-0 victory.

Bellefonte sent Alten Howell to the mound where he would face off against State College hurler Harrison Meyer.

State College was the home team on the day.

In the first, Bellefonte’s Brayden Grove hit a single into center.

But State College would shut the door with clutch play, keeping the game scoreless.

The Little Lions were looking for some 2-out lightning as Marshall Laskowski walked.

But Red Raiders pitcher Howell finished off the first with a strikeout.

Bellefonte followed in State College’s footsteps in the second, picking up a walk with two out. Ethan Kimmich walked to keep things alive.

State College ended the inning with a strike out.

In the bottom of the second State College started to get some thing going.

Zeke Gegliardi singled into left to lead off the inning. He stole second and moved to third on a fielders choice.

Howell struck out one and picked up a pop up to foil the potential rally.

Again facing two outs, Bellefonte was again shut down by solid play by State College.

State College once again had a runner in scoring position when Ezra Sheposki walked and moved to second on a stolen base.

Jake Kraft sent a blazing shot to shallow right only to be robbed by an acrobatic Ryan Hepfer, keeping the contest tied as the game went into the fourth.

Bellefonte was able to get two runners on in the fifth but once again the Little Lions shut things down.

Evan Maynard picked up State College’s second hit of the ball game in the fourth. He hit a grounder past shortstop. Christian Wenger followed with a chopper into left field, putting runners on first and second with one out.

Bellefonte closed the doors on the threat, posting consecutive grounders.

Coley Price got the Bellefonte dug out rocking as she posted a one-out double. She moved up third on an errant throw to get her.

The Little Lions held once again, taking the contest into the bottom of the fifth still tied.

Gegliardi gave his team something to cheer for hitting a blast into left field resulting in a stand up double.

Meyer joined Gegliardi on base with a chopper down the middle.

But Bellefonte’s defense was up for the challenge, collecting three consecutive outs to keep the game at 0-0.

In the final inning of regulation, Bruce Jennings got Bellefonte started a he sent a laser shot to centerfield for the double.

Hepfer bunted his way on base, quickly putting runners on first and second with no outs.

Connor Heeman loaded things up for Bellefonte as he layed down a picture perfect bunt.

With the infield in, Ben Ranio slipped one past the infield scoring Jennings and Hepfer, making it a 2-0 contest.

Holden Howard kept things going as he smoked a 2-RBI single into right field.

Grove followed with a single, putting runners on first and second with only one out. Both moved up a base on a double steal.