State College 10U forces title game versus Bellefonte with Friday win

By Kenny Varner Jr.
- Tweet
- Pin It
Updated: July 7, 2023

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Another chapter was added to a long distinguished Little League rivalry.

Friday with a win, the Bellefonte 10U all-star baseball team hosted rival State College in an attempt to capture the District 5 Championship.

With a State College win, there will be a winner take all title tilt on Sunday at Montressor field.

With its win Friday, the two will meet one last time for the D5 title.

The match up is the first of three championship match ups will play this weekend as both the 11 and 12U teams will both battle on Saturday for their respective age group title.

In the end, it was the State College that would come out the 9-2 victor in the legendary match up Friday at Webster Field.

Brycen Mingle took to the mound for the Red Raiders while the Little Lions countered with Brighton Bean.

State College won the coin flip and chose to be home team.

Bean and company sent Bellefonte down in order 1-2-3. The State College hurler struck out two of three in the first.

State College’s offense started early in the first.

With one out, Andrew Maynard was hit by a pitch.

Bean helped his own cause with a slap single into left, putting runners on first and second.

Both moved up a base when Nolan Schenck bounced into a fielders choice.

Maynard scored on a wild pitch, giving State College the early lead.

Mingle ended the inning with the second of his two strike outs in the inning.

Cody Bodle got things going on the right foot for Bellefonte in the second. Bodle walked and then stole second, putting him in scoring position. He then stole third. All with no outs.

With two outs, Bodle hustled home on a wild pitch, tying the game at one.

For State College in the second, Maya Rossman got things going offensively for the Little Lions smashing a single by second for a single.

Miles Laskowski moved Rossman over to third with a single of his own.

Cam Bryan brought in Rossman posting a sacrifice fly to right, giving State back the lead.

Laskowski scored on a Bellefonte miscue, upping the lead 3-1 going into the third.

Bellefonte opened up the third with a Owen Fletemake walked.

David Anderson kept things going with a slow bouncing single to third, putting runners on first and second.

Jackson VonGunden hit a long fielders choice to move up Elliot Brezler.

But the State College defense held, ending the Bellefonte threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Luke Jordan got State College with a lead off walk.

Bellefonte’s Oliver Lucas snagged a fly out to third for the first out.

With two outs. Maynard kept the inning alive, walking to set the stage for Bean. He did not disappoint as he belted a 2-RBI single, bringing in Jordan and Maynard. Bean had two early hits to energize his team.

But the Bellefonte defense got the next out.

After three, State College led 5-1.

Bellefonte refused to go down quietly.

Lucas led off with a single in the fourth.

Facing two outs and teammate Frank Albright on second, Bodle kept the inning going with a walk.

Braxton McClelland singled into left, loading the bases for Bellefonte.

Bean, who was now playing second, made a jumping catch on a line drive, keeping Bellefonte off the board and ending the rally in the fourth.

State College loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning.

Ross man’s chopping slow single, scored one,

A Sacrifice fly by Laskowski scored another run, upping it to a 7-1 advantage.

Going into the fifth, State College led Bellefonte 7-1.

Bellefonte batter, Beckett Albright opened the fifth with a walk. He moved over to third via a stolen base and a fielders choice.