Mifflin County 4, Bellefonte 1

BE  000 001 0 – 1 3 1

MC 010 003 x – 4 6 0

WP: Madison Wolfgang

LP: Josselyn Nau

Multiple hitters: None.

By Kenny Varner

HIGHLAND PARK – Two legendary programs met up Wednesday afternoon when the new look Bellefonte softball team traveled to defending District 6 Class 6A champion MIfflin County.

Making her Bellefonte debut was new coach Beth Devlin. Devlin, a former Red Raider herself, had her team primed and ready to go as the team took to the diamond.

Mifflin County veteran coach Craig Weston had his team prepared as well as they embarked in a fast moving pitchers duel.

“We’ll take a win. This was only our fourth time outside this season. Mother Nature controls it but the kids battled,” said Weston. “We hit the ball but didn’t square it up until later in the game. I’m hoping that it’s a good sign and they’re starting to see it.”

Offensively, the Lady Huskies broke open a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth posting three runs, en route in taking home the 4-1 victory.

Picking up the winning run for the Huskies was Sophie McCurdy who roped a 2-run double in the sixth.

Picking up the win for MIfflin County was ace hurler Madison Wolfgang who pitched a three-hitter in the victory.

Josselyn Nau picked up the hard luck defeat, despite only allowing six hits in the contest.

“We both hit the ball hard. Theirs found the holes and ours didn’t. That’s just the game. I’m disappointed but I’m also really excited because they did play well,” said Devlin. “Our defense was spectacular. We had girls diving all over field. It seemed like we didn’t get the hit at the exact second that we needed it.”

The game started out as a strong defensive effort as neither team got a hit in the first inning.

In the second, Wolfgang sent the side down in order with a ground out and two strike outs.

But the Huskies came out in the second and manufactured the first run of the game.

With two out, McCurdy was standing at second when McKena Yoder stepped up to the plate. She did not disappoint as she smashed a blast into right center, plating McCurdy.

Bellefonte would shut down things the rest of the inning, trailing by a lone run.

Both defenses took center stage for the next two innings, keeping their opponents off the base paths.

In the top of the fifth, Kierra Narehood broke Wolfgang’s no-hit bid with a blast into left field.

She moved to second on a picture perfect SAC bunt by Maria Cotter, putting Narehood into prime scoring position with only one out.

Grace Novitsky tied the contest on an RBI smash to left, tying the contest as well.

Sienna Barnhart, put runners on first and second after hitting one back the middle, putting runners on first and second.

Taylor Brown loaded the bases as she walked for the second time in the game, still with one out.

Mifflin County third baseman Yoder, made the defensive play of the game as she took a wicked hop of a strong grounder by Madison Melius.

Despite playing the infield in, Yoder instinctively scooped the hard blast and immediately sent a throw home for the force out. From there catcher Alaina Sharp sent a throw to first base to end the threat and the inning.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth when the Huskies had some 2-out lightning.

Riley Hine led off with a single to centerfield.

Arika Henry hustled out a grounder to third that was just off line, allowing her to reach base.

Alexis O’Brien laid down a sacrifice bunt, however, the Red Raiders alertly threw it to third to get the lead runner out.

With two outs, McCurdy hit a double of her own scoring O’Brien and Henry, taking back the lead at 3-1.

McCurdy later scored on an RBI single by Jaylee Bodtorf, adding an insurance run and putting her team up three going into the final stanza.

That would be more than Wolfgang and company would need as they sent down the Red Raiders in the top of the seventh, 1-2-3.