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Bellefonte baseball punches ticket to D6 Title tilt

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Altoona, here they come.

The Bellefonte baseball team punched its ticket to the District 6 championship game Friday, taking care of Greater Johnstown in 11-1 in 5 innings.

Red Raider Hurler Ashton Wetzler has a near-perfect performance, tossing a 1-hitter against the Trojans.

Wetzler went the distance, striking out eight, walked four and did not give up an earned run.

With the victory, Bellefonte will head to Curve Stadium against Somerset for the title.

Leading the way offensively for the Red Raiders was Bobby Marsh who went 3-for-4 with 3RBIs and scored a run.

Both Marsh and CJ Funk both had doubles on the night.

Taking up the loss for the Trojans was Ryan Mastovich who was limited to just one inning of work.

He was replaced in the second by Zach Slis.

“Ashton was pitching well tonight. A couple batters got away from him but we always talk about how do we help out our pitcher. Even when he’s on, helping him out is scoring runs on the board and playing strong behind him,” Bellefonte coach Jon Clark said. “I thought we did that tonight. I thought we played solid tonight. We were patient. We were smart. Guys know the type of pitches they are looking for. We’ve done that a lot this year, whether in a game or practice. They’re going to be smart about it. When you get up early it definitely alleviates sone of the pressure you feel.”

After holding the Trojans scoreless in the top of the first, the Bellefonte offense started off even in a bad situation.

Lead off hitter Nick Capperelle struck out but with the ball bouncing behind the catcher, he hustled it out.

Funk joined him on base, walking after going to a 3-2 count.

Both advanced on a stolen base by Capperelle, the throw to third went deep into left field, allowing him to score and Funk to move to second.

Funk also stole third, setting himself into scoring position.

Derek Fravel roped a high fly to centerfield, allowing Funk to tag up and add the team’s second run of the inning.

Marsh kept the inning going with a single into left field.

Seth Shuey also singles, scoring Marsh.

CJ Lauck put two runners back on base as he singled, setting the stage for Nick Catalano.

Catalano did not disappoint as he smoked a long single into left centerfield, scoring both Shuey and Lauck, upping the lead to 5-0.

Wetzler dominated the second inning, striking out the side.

Bellefonte has no intention of slowing down as it plated three more runs in the second, upping it 8-0.

Capperelle led off once again and this time he reached on a walk as did Funk.

Fravel put down a perfect bunt down third, reaching with a bunt single, loading the bases.

Marsh singled in both Capperelle and Funk, upping the game to a 7-0  advantage.

With one out, Colton Burd hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, allowing Fravel to end the scoring at 8-0.

The only hit off Wetzler came on a on hop double off the fence by Nolan Mock.

Mock later scored on a Bellefonte miscue, cutting it to an 8-1 game.

The Red Raiders continued to plug away, posting two in the third, remaining just one run away from the 10-run mercy rule.

That came in the bottom of the fifth as Marsh doubled home Wetzler, ending the game with a score of 11-1.

Bellefonte 11, Greater Johnstown  1 (5 innings)

GJ 001 00x x – 1 1  1

BE 532 01x x -11 9 1

WP: Ashton Wetzler

LP: Ryan Mastovich

Multiple hits: Greater Johnstown –  .

Bellefonte – Bobby Marsh 3-for-4 3RBIs, run.

HR:None.

3B: None.

2B: Greater Johnstown – Nolan Mock. Bellefonte – CJ Funk, Marsh.

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