Nittany Valley tops 4-Leaf in 12U softball All-Star action

By Kenny Varner Jr.
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: June 19, 2023

By Kenny Varner
BELLEFONTE – It was a battle of the unbeatens Monday as Nittany Valley hosted 4-lead in the second round of 12-year old All-Star action.

Nittany Valley got off to an early 2-run lead before exploding for a 7-0 lead going into the fifth.

In the end, the “Blue and Red” took the contest at the same 7-0 score.

Abby Herr notched the victory posting eight strike outs in the victory.

4-Leaf pitcher Bella Nelson struck out seven, allowing eight hits.

Starting in the visitor position, 4-Leaf had the first at bats.

Nittany Valley opened with two outs, but 4-Leaf notched hits by Aubrey Chutko and Lindsay Bainey put runners on first and second.

But Nittany Valley’s defense was able to get the out they needed to keep the game scoreless going into its first at bats.

With one out, Harper Bair laid down a picture perfect bunt single to notch the teams first hit.

With two outs, she stole second.

Abby Herr followed up with a walk and moved up to second ask Bair moved to third.

Ella Herr tripled in both Abby Herr and Bair as she lifted a shot into left field. Herr moved up to third.

Emerson Holderman walked and stole second, putting runners once again in scoring position.

But 4-Leaf held off the possible big inning, keeping it at 2-0.

Nittany Valley hurler Abby Herr struck out 2-of-3 in the second.

Payton Norfolk started the Nittany Valley offense in the second. She patiently waited at the plate and walked.

Teammate Nora Brown followed with a walk of her own, putting runners on first and second.

That set the stage for leadoff hitter Sloan Moore. Moore did not disappoint as she roped a stand up double, scoring both Norfolk and Brown.

Going into the third, Nittany Valley held a 4-0 advantage.

Addy Gregory got 4-Leaf a lead off runner in the third, taking first on a walk.

She then stole second. Gregory put herself one base away from scoring as she advanced on a fielders choice.

Adrienne Masullo got the bottom of the inning started for Nittany Valley to with a walk.

With one out, Ella Herr went to right field, moving Masullo up to third. Herr stole second putting both Nittany Valley runners in scoring position.

However, 4-Leaf Nelson struck out 2-in-a-row to end the threat.

Lindsey Bainey, who posted two hits in the game, slapped a single into shallow center. Bainey stole second and moved up to third on a fielders choice. But Nittany Valley held, keeping the shut out in tact, going into the fifth.

With two out, Moore added to her offensive prowess as she hustled out an inside-the-park home run as she grounded a laser shot that went right over the base at third. On the hit, she scored teammates Brown and Ammerman who were on base at the time.

Bair kept the inning going with a single.

Nittany Valley held a 7-0 advantage going into the fifth.

Masullo came in in relief in the top of the sixth to put the game on ice.

4-Leaf refused to go down without a fight, loading the bases in their last at bats but Nittany Valley kept them from scoring.

From there, the Nittany Valley group improved to 2-0 in the victory.