Photo by Jeff Shomo
By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – The Bellefonte bats were alive and kicking Sunday night while it’s defense was almost unstoppable, allowing just two hits for a tough Penns Valley team Sunday in 12U All-Star action.

In the end, the Raiders would notch its first victory of the young tournament, 7-0.

Leading the way for Bellefonte was pitcher Austin Houser. Houser went 5 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five.

He also had a 3-for-4 afternoon and collected 2RBIs.

Holden Howard swung a hot bar as well going 2-for-3 with a triple and 2RBIs.

Picking up hits for the Rams were Caden Bowen and Isaac Harpster.

The game started out as a defensive stalemate as the two teams went scoreless in the first.

Playing the role as the visitors after losing the coin toss, Bellefonte played its first runs in the second.

Chase Bumgardner led off with a single to left.

Levi Hamilton followed when he was interfered with by the Penns Valley catcher.

Alaina Mishock roped an RBI single into right, scoring Bumgardner on the play.

Howard blasted a triple scoring Hamilton and Mishock on the hit.

With the lead, Houser and his strong defense kept the Penns Valley runners off the base paths for most of the contest.

Penns Valley toughened up its defense, keeping the score in check until the sixth inning.

Going into the final inning, Bellefonte padded to its lead adding four more runs.

Grady Krout started things off with a walk. Henry St. Amant followed in Krout’s footsteps with a walk of his own.

Howard moved his teammates up the bases with a single into left field, scoring Krout.

Logan Gibson loaded the bases when he reached on a single.

Houser helped his own cause roping a 2-RBI blooper into shallow right field, ending the scoring at 7-0.

Houser came into the bottom of the sixth and got two quick outs.

He was replaced on the mound by Levi Hamilton.

Hamilton did the job getting the last batter and preserving the shut out.