Bellefonte takes rivalry game against BEA in comeback fashion

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 11, 2021

do By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Heading towards the last games of the season, both Bellefonte and a Bald Eagle baseball teams have been tuning up for the end of the season.

The two met up Tuesday to renew rivalries at Governor’s Park.

Like most times the two get together, it was a contest that went down to the wire with Bellefonte scoring late in the sixth to take the 4-3 win.

Picking up the win on the day was Bobby Marsh while teammate Gavin Fravel came in in the seventh and shut down the Eagles offense.

Marsh went six complete innings scattering seven hits and striking out three.

Marsh also helped his cause offensively going 2-for-3, blasting a game-tying home run to add to the late drama.

Fravel in one inning of work, sent down the Bald Eagle batters 1-2-3 to collect the save.

Bald Eagle pitcher Dillon Barnyak had a strong performance despite the loss. He went the distance, allowing eight hits while striking out three.

“Bald Eagle came to play. Their pitcher was shifting speeds on us and hitting different speeds against us. The whole game had us out on our front foot and a lot to adjust to. I told the guys you are going to have games like that when your not quite clicking on offensely. You to manufacture some things and make some opportunities,”said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “It’s kind of a playoff like atmosphere where it’s tight games, pressure spots. We said all year to the guys we need different guys stepping upon different spots and we had different guys stepping in to spots today.”

With the game tied at three going into the bottom of the sixth, the Raiders were able to push one last runner over the plate.

Nick Capparelle hustled out an infield hit to get the inning off and running.

Trevor Johnson advanced Capparelle to second as he put down a sacrifice bunt.

With one out, Zach Swanger bounced into a fielder’s choice that moved Capparelle to third.

Capparelle took advantage of a wild pitch to steal his way home, taking a 4-3 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, Gavin Fravel came in and sent down the side in order to give his team the win.

In the first, Bellefonte scored first as Marsh led off with a walk. He was replaced by courtesy runner Harry Horner. Horner moved to second via a wild pitch.

Derek Fravel’s single down right field line, scored Horner to take a 1-0 lead.

Bald Eagle bounced back in the second inning, plating three in the inning.

McGwire Heverly got the inning started as he missed a home run by a few feet, settling for a double off the bottom of the wall.

Kahale Burns blasted an RBI single, tying things at one.

Myles Stover joined Burns on base as his single moved him up to third while he singled to center.

Alex Gavlock’s single to right scored Stover and Burns, giving the Eagles a 3-2 advantage.

Bellefonte chipped into the Bald Eagle lead in the third.

It would be Marsh that would get things going again, reaching on a sizzling single to right field.

He would be replaced on the base paths again by Horner.

Derek Fravel came through once again, sending a blast to the gap in right center scoring Horner.

Bellefonte’s defense stood strong and again kept the Eagles off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth, setting the stage for Marsh, once again.

Opening the bottom of the fifth, Marsh walloped a shot that easily cleared the right field fence, tying the contest.

With most rivalry games, there are close calls.

Ryan Kresovich smoked a double into left center.

Gavin Eckley put down a sacrifice bunt that the throw was wild going to first. The first baseman sent the ball home and Kresovich was gunned down at home, killing the rally and keeping the game tied.

“We kind of helped them a little bit too much today. We shouldn’t have helped them at all. Definitely helped them serve that run up. We didn’t move up on that bunt when we tried to move him up. That tuner would have scored easy if he had been moving,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Jim Gardner. “We thought he was safe at home but the umpire saw it differently. It was his call and he was right on the plate so we have to respect that. But we had our opportunities but we just didn’t take advantage of them.”

With the win, Bellefonte is 2-for-2 on the week with three more games remaining in the week.

Bellefonte 4, Bald Eagle Area 3

BEA 030 000 0 – 3 7 0

BEL 101 011 x – 4 8 1

WP: Bobby Marsh (BEL)

LP: Dillon Barnyak (BEA)

S: Gavin Fravel (BEL)

Multiple hitters: BEA – Noah Williamson 2-for-4. Bellefonte – Marsh 2-for-2, HR, run, RBI. Derek Fravel 2-for-3, 2RBI. Zach Swanger 2-for-3.

HR: BEA – None. Bellefonte- Marsh

3B: None.

2B: BEA – McGwire Heverly, Ryan Kresovich. Bellefonte – Trevor Johnson, Derek Fravel.