By Kenny Varner

BELLEVILLE – Big Valley met Bellefonte Saturday in the 10-year old Little League All-Star opener at Belleville.

Bellefonte pitcher Coley Price had a strong outing on the mound and at the plate en route to helping her team to a 6-2 victory.

Price struck out seven and allowed only two hits in her time on the mound.

Offensively, Price helped her team with a 2-run single in the second.

Teammate Ryan Hepfer posted a 2-hit, 2RBIs on the night while battery mate Brayden Ripka also finished with a 2-hit effort.

Big Valley was led in hitting by Mason Mathews who helped get Big Valley on the board, crushing a grounder that bounced off the leg of the Bellefonte shortstop with the bases loaded.

Others getting hit for Big Valley were Levi Sharp, Kaden Peachey and Caleb Peachey.

Both team’s held each other scoreless in the first.

However, in the bottom of the second Bellefonte rallied for a 4-run inning.

Damien Orfanoudakis opened the inning with a walk.

Brother Dom Orfanoudakis hit a slow roller to third, reaching first base with an infield hit.

With runners on first and second, Ryan Hepfer hit a blooper just over the head of the first baseman, scoring Damien Orfanoudakis.

Price hit a chopper back up the middle, allowing Dom Orfanoudakis and Hepfer on the play.

Price and her offense controlled the Big Valley bats in the third.

Bellefonte added an insurance run in the third.

Brayden Ripka smacked an RBI single on a sizzler Dow third base line, upping its lead to 5-0.

But Big Valley dig deep in the top of the fifth, cutting the Bellefonte lead to three.

Caleb Peachey led in the fifth off with a single back up the middle.

Gage Geisinger followed with a walk.

Kaden Peachey was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

Mason Mathews grounded a shot off the Bellefonte shortstop allowing Caleb Peachey to score.

Kaleb Peachey scored the second run of the inning on a double steal attempt, making it a 5-2 contest.

But Bellefonte added another run in the fifth and held the Big Valley bats at bay in its last at bats.