Bellefonte tops Juniata for District 6 title

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 16, 2024

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – They meet again!

For the second year-in-a-row, the Juniata and Bellefonte baseball teams paths meet at the District 6 Class AAAA championship game.

Last season, the Red Raiders defeated the Indians en route to a PIAA State Championship title.

Thursday, the scrappy kids from Juniata were looking for a little revenge and also grabbing a District 6 title of their own.

This time the rematch was a little closer to home for both as the game was played at MIfflin County high school.

But like last season, the former state champion continued its winning ways taking the contest to capture its fourth-in-a-row, winning 14-0 in five innings.

“Today hitting wise we did a lot of good things. The whole game came together for us. Kind of like we planned and practiced it,” said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “I couldn’t be more proud of how the kids showed up today.”

Juniata sent hurler Grant Reinhold to the mound to face off against Parker Capparelle.

Juniata stung the ball well but was foiled by the experienced Red Raider defense.

Picking up hits for the Indians were Carson Kepner, Reinhold, Jarret Cobdo and Mason Nipple.

“This was a tough game. It is a tough one to swallow,” said Juniata coach Ty Treaster. “Our kids did battle and we were hitting the ball hard. Coming into today, we knew Bellefonte could hit the ball. What it came down to was our pitching struggled a little bit today. I think when you get down it’s very hard to comeback.”

With two out in the first, Reinhold tried to spark something hit a hard chopper in between first and second.

However, he would be stranded there.

Bellefonte made the most of their first inning, posting two.

Leadoff hitter Trevor Johnson led off with a walk.

With the hit and run on, Peyton Vancas moved Johnson to third on a liner in shallow center.

Braedyn Kormanic followed with a RBI single to center, scoring Johnson and moving Vancas to third.

Third baseman Wyatt Stoner kept the Bellefonte damage at two, robbing Bellefonte on a grounder at third.

Juniata got the second going with consecutive hits by Jarrett Condo and Mason Nipple.

But a double play by the Red Raiders defense spoiled the inning, keeping it a 2-0 Bellefonte lead.

Jacob Corman got his team started off on the right foot in the bottom of the inning blasting a one hopper off the fence in left centerfield for the stand up double. He moved up to third on a Juniata wild pitch.

Ethan Tomasacci’s blast to right field was deep enough to allow Corman to tag up and score his team’s third run.

With one out in the third, Carson Kepner smashed a line drive single into center.

Wyatt Stoner reached on an error, putting runners on first and second.

Again the Indians threatened but the Bellefonte defense was able to make the plays to keep them off the scoreboard.

Offensively, the Red Raiders started off strong once again.

Vancas opened with a walk. He scored on an RBI single back up the middle by Kormanic. Kormanic was replaced on the base paths by courtesy runner Isaac Gall.

Josh Brown hit a slow grounder into center, moving Gall to third.

Brown stole second, setting the stage for Oliver Thornburg.

Thornburg hit a grounder to third and Stoner was able to catch Brown in a rundown as Gall scored.

Courtesy runner Coletta Houser replaced Thornburg at second.

Corman notched his second hit of the game, scoring Houser on the hit.

Fraley kept the inning alive, walking on six pitches.

Tomasacci loaded the bases as he walked as well.

Johnson came to the plate looking to add to the Red Raider lead. He added to the Bellefonte lead, walking to bring home Corman, upping it to a 7-0 contest.

Fraley made it 8-0 scoring on a wild pitch as the other two runners advanced a base.

Kormanic, who was 3-for-3 in his first three at bats, smashed a 2RBI single to keep the inning going.

When the dust settled in the inning, Bellefonte exploded for eight runs to take a 10-0 advantage into the fourth.

With one swing of the bat, Corman added to Red Raiders lead with a 2-run home run in the fourth. He was a triple away from hitting for the cycle.

Despite the loss, nobody can take away the fact that the Indians battled to earn back-to-back D6 runner ups and a bright future ahead of them under Coach Treaster.

For Bellefonte, it’s a beginning of. Trek that will have them in a battle to regain their PIAA title.

Bellefonte heads to Mount Alousius Tuesday to play in a subregional.

Bellefonte 14, Juniata 0 (5 inn.)

JUN 000 00 xx – 0 4 1

BEL 217 4 xx x – 14 9 2

WP: Braedyn Kormanic

LP: Grant Reinhold

Multiple hits: JUN – None. BEL – Braedyn Kormanic 3-for-4 4RBIs. Jacob Corman 3-for-3 3Runs, 3RBis Peyton Vancas.2-for-2 2runs, 2RBIs

HR: JUN – None. BEL – Corman .

3B: JUN – None. BEL – None.

2B: JUN – None. BEL – Vancas, Corman.