Instant Classic: BEA muscles out a thrilling 3-2 11th inning win over Penns Valley in a defensive classic

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: May 19, 2025

Photos by Tim Weight
WINGATE – Two familiar foes battling for one prize…a chance to continue its road to a District 6 Class AAA Championship berth.

Monday, the Bald Eagle Area softball team hosted a very feisty Penns Valley team in a loser goes home match up.

You could’ve cut the tension with a knife in this one as the game wouldn’t be decided until the 11th inning before the Lady Eagles would claw their way to a 3-2 victory in a thriller.

This one was not for the faint of heart with two of Centre County’s premier pitchers in the circle in Penns Valley’s Taylor Bumgardner and Bald Eagle’s hurler Sierra Albright.

The game was a defensive gem with the two combining on five combine runs the entire extended contest.

Bumgardner struck out 12 on the night while Albright continues to sizzle striking out 16 in the victory.

Offensively, the Lady Eagles’ lead off hitter Kailey Eckert finished with three of Bald Eagles seven hits on the night.

But it would be the clutch hitting of Taylor Habovick.

Penns Valley led going into the bottom of the 11th 2-1 before the Lady Eagles reached down inside and rallied for the comeback.

Habovick came up with in the bottom of the 11th with teammate Sydnie Thompson to take the victory.

Starting off the inning Addyson Burns was placed on second, Thompson reached on an error by Penns Valley and moved up into scoring position later in the inning by a fielders’ choice hit by Raelee Repasky, scoring Burns on the play and tying the game at two.

But Habovick ended the contest as he roped an RBI sizzling line drive single to right field, sending the Eagles to the next round.

Through the first nine innings neither team was able to cross home plate sending the game knotted as a scoreless tie going into the 10th inning.

Penns Valley scored their game’s first run.

Starting out the inning with Haddley Stover starting at second, E Wert pitched down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Stover to advance to third.

Lilyana Treweek also put down an active bunt, allowing Stover to score.

But Bald Eagle would rally back to knot things at one in their part of the 10th.

Habovick was placed at second and saw her team place two quick outs.

Facing the brink of elimination, Alexis Baney came up with a clutch RBI to centerfield, sending the game into yet another extra inning.

In the top of the 11th, Elle Dinges was put on second, Bumgardner was intentionally walked. Sydnie Dalton brought in Dinges with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, putting the Rams back ahead.

But the Eagles refused to end their season on this night and battled back with Habovick playing the hero role and giving her team the hard fought victory.