Lady Eagles explode for 18 runs in win over Bellwood

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: April 26, 2021

By Kenny Varner

MILESBURG – Monday it was a spectacular showing for the Bald Eagle Area girls softball team as it opened the week with an 18-0 home three-inning victory over a young Bellwood-Antis team.

Bald Eagle pitcher Madison Peters was one pitch away from a perfect game but still managed to pitch a no-hitter.

She struck out her first five batters she faced.

Her only blemish came as she threw a 3-2 pitch just wide allowing the Blue Devils Kat Garman to walk.

Offensively, the Lady Eagles posted 12 hits on the day.

Leading the way offensively, Mara Hockenberry (2-for-3 3RBIs, 3runs), Ava Stere (2-for-3 triple, 4RBIs), Katelyn Smitchko (2-for-2 3-run home run, 3runs, 3RBIs).

“I’m so proud of them. We put a lot put a lot of runs on the board tonight,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Don Lucas. “We still got to continue. We’re still a work in progress. We still have some work to be done.”

After striking out the side, Peters and company went to the plate and exploded onto the scene.

Hockenberry led off the game with a shot down the third baseline.

McKenna Baney followed with a walk.

Lefty Stere pulled the ball into right centerfield scoring both Baney and Hockenberry on the triple, making it 2-0.

Peters helped her own cause early roping an RBI single into right field.

Meghan King followed with a walk.

Autumn Tobias smashed a 2RBI single, upping the score to 4-0.

With one out, Smitchko kept things going with an infield single.

Teammates Maddie Perry and Maddie Eckley reached on consecutive walks to load the bases.

Hockenberry took her second at bat in the inning the hard way as she was hit by a Bellwood offering, scoring Smitchko.

Stere ended the scoring with two more RBIs in the inning, making it a 9-0 advantage.

In their second at bats, Peters stymied the Blue Devils by striking out two and allowing a groundout to end the inning.

The Eagles picked up the offensive punch like they had in the first.

Highlighting the second 9-run inning of the game was a 3-run blast by Smitchko en route to the team’s victory.

Bald Eagle Area 18, Bellwood-Antis 0

BA 00 0 xxx x – 0 0 2

BEA 9 9 x xxx x – 18 12 0

WP: Madison Peters

LP: Attie Poorman

Multiple hitters: Bellwood-Antis – None. Bald Eagle Area – Mara Hockenberry 2-for-3 3RBIs, 3runs, Ava Stere 2-for-3 triple, 4RBIs, Katelyn Smitchko 2-for-2 3-run home run,

3runs, 3RBIs.

HR: Bald Eagle – Smitchko.

3B: Bald Eagle – Stere.

2B: Bald Eagle – Hockenberry (2)