Red Raiders notch cone from behind win

By rscaife
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Updated: April 11, 2017

BELLEFONTE – After a slow start Monday against a stubborn Huntingdon softball team, Bellefonte erased a 3-1 deficit midway through the contest and posted a 6-run fifth inning and held onto beat the Bearcats 7-4 in front of the Lady Raiders home crowd.
“We got off to a slow start but they bounced back in the later innings picking up the hits we needed to,” Bellefonte coach Fred Caldwell said. “I think that was important because there are things you can’t control and they have to learn to put those things behind them. Pick it up the next play and do what you can do.”
Bellefonte hurler Tara Baney , despite giving up four runs, was strong when she needed to be striking out seven and scattering only four hits while going the distance.
Baney notched two clutch strike outs in the top of the seventh.
Huntingdon pitcher Amanda Norris took the loss for the Bearcats.
Bellefonte’s offense totaled eight hits in the victory, two of which came from the bat of Jaelyn Smith who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Lady Bearcats’ offense was led by a blast by Clare Alexander that cleared the centerfield wall for the solo home run.
Trailing 3-1 going into the fifth inning, the Lady Raiders blazed their way back into the game and took back control.
With one out and Alexis Wetzler on first, Emma Dehaas sacrifed Wetzler over to scoring position, setting the stage for Baney to help her own cause.
“No doubt Tara is the leader of the team. Not just because she is a pitcher or a senior but she is the one that keeps the team together,” Caldwell said. “She keeps their heads in the game and keeps them motivated m. She is an enormous part of our team.”
She showed her patience at the plate and walked, putting two runners on base primed and ready.
Rianna Trexler cut the lead to one, smacking in Wetzler on a single to center.
Angela Caperelle followed up with a blast into right, scoring Baney to tie the contest.
Taylor Kerr hustled out a dribbler that handcuffed the Huntingdon shortstop, allowing another run to come in to take the 4-3 advantage.
Jaelyn Smith singled home Capperelle.
Smith and Kerr later scored to round out the scoring at six runs in the inning and a 7-3 lead in the scoreboard.
Huntingdon didn’t go down without a fight as it manufactured a run in the top of the sixth.
Catherine Miller led off with a walk and then stole second. She moved up to third on a fielders’ choice and scored on a simple grounder to third, cutting the lead to 7-4.
“I think our defense is going to be our strengths this year. We will have a solid defense,” Caldwell said. “Our pitching is good and our hitting is better and it’s coming along even further. But I think at this point it is our defense.”
However, it was too little too late as the Lady Raiders picked up its fourth win of the young season.
They will be back in action today as they travel to Tyrone.