By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – One bad inning.

A 7-run fourth inning proved to be the difference Tuesday night as the State College 12U All-Stars fell to the visiting Hollidaysburg 9-2 in the opening round of the Region 4 All-Star tournament.

The win was highlighted by a 2-Run home run by Caleb Dietrick.

Teammate Braden Hatch finished with a 2-for-4 . He finished the day with two doubles and 2RBIs. He was the only multiple hitter for Hollidaysburg.

State College was led by Connor Kulka. Kulka sent a solo blast that sailed over the fence and the scoreboard. He also finished with two hits on the night.

Dante Peterson and Ethan Prenatt also had hits for the Little Lions.

Kulka was tough on the mound early getting six strikeouts in the first two innings.

However, Hollidaysburg was able notch two in the second, taking an early 2-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning.

Dietrick walked and stole second and third. He scored on a fielders choice by Beau Rabel. Rabel still reached as Dietrick beat out a rundown by State.

Rabel later scored on an RBI double by Aspen Anderson.

With one swing of the bat, Kulka cut the lead in two with the solo shot. State College had a threat going with runners on second and third but could not bring them in.

Both teams did a good job of keeping their opponents at bay for the third.

But Hollidaysburg got five hits in the fourth as well as a State Coollege miscue resulting in the 7-run lead.

The score would stay 9-1 until the bottom of the sixth.

State College refused to give up as Kulka scored late to get back on the scoreboard.

However, it wasn’t enough for the comeback as State College fell into the early bracket for Wednesday.