By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – It all came down to two teams in this seasons’ District 5 12U Softball All-Star Championship.

This year’s edition had a tough undefeated State College team go head-to head against a feisty group from the Nittany Valley at Sichler Field Thursday.

In the end it would be the State College squad that grinded out a 5-0 victory to capture the title.

State College pitcher Milana Lowe tossed a two-hit shut out. She also struck out eight while going the distance.

Her offense manufactured runs in the first second and third innings to secure the victory.

In all, the Little Lions scattered seven hits.

Taking the loss for Nittany Valley was Riley Solt.

Defensively, both teams had a strong performance with neither committing an error in the game.

Leading the way offensively for State College was Ellie Horner who went 1-for-2 with 2RBIs, run.

Teammate Brooklyn Reed also went 1-for-2 with 2 runs.

Others picking up hits were Lowe, Addison Boyer, Ava Zook, Violet DeDonato and Ali Saverono.

Nittany Valley got hits from Makenzie Kellogg and Maci Fisher.

State College opened the scoring in the bottom of the first.

Reed led off with a walk. She stole second and then scored on an RBI fielders choice.

Nittany Valley held tight from there as they refused to allow another run in the inning.

In the second inning, State College added another run to take a 2-run lead.

Addison Boyer doubled to start things off, setting the stage for Zook.

Zook did not disappoint as she picked up an RBI single.

Again, like in the first inning, the Nittany Valley defense stood tall and kept State College to just a run.

Defensively, State College continue to hold the Nittany Valley runners off the base paths.

State College did its damage in the third as they posted a 3-run inning.

With one out, Reed singled. Lowe singled to put runners on first and second. Both stole bases and were in scoring possession at second and third.

A single by Horner scored both Reed and Lowe.

DeDonato blasted a triple to right centerfield, scoring Horner, upping the lead to 5-0.

Both defenses held the others scoreless the rest of the way as the State College group took the hard fought victory.