Bellefonte 15, Obama Academy 0 (3 innings)

OA 000 xxx  x – 0   2 3

BE 195  xxx    – 15 10 0

WP: Peyton Vancas

LP: James Lozecki

Multiple hits: OA –  . BE – Vancas 2-for-3 3RBIs, Zach Lehman 2-for- 3 2RBIs, run, Carsen Henry 2-for-3 .

HR: OA –  None. BE –  Thornburg.

3B: OA –  None. BE –  None.

2B: OA –  None. BE –  None.

By Kenny Varner

CRESSON – The trip to the PIAA Championship gold began Tuesday when Bellefonte and Obama Academy met in a winner take all contest in baseball action.

The Eagles came into the season with a 9-4 record while the Red Raider squad posted an impressive 12-8 mark.

The Red Raiders sent out Peyton Vancas to the mound as he went against Obama’s James Lozecki.

“We came out and ready to play. We took advantage of circumstances that were presented to us,” said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “I think our guys rose to the occasion. They knew what they were playing for a chance to get into the state tournament. We kind of set states as our benchmark. That’s where we want to year in and year out.”

Monday belonged to the Red Raiders as they pounded out 10 hits en route to a 15-0 three-inning win.

The Bellefonte pitcher was sharp on the mound and at the plate as he tossed a two-hitter and finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs.

After a scoreless first, the Red Raiders started a threat early in their part of the opening stanza.

Vancas  hustled out an infield hit to shortstop. Zach Lehman followed walking on four consecutive pitches.

Evan Mattern loaded the bases on a walk as well.

Ollie Thornburg bounced into an RBI fielders choice, scoring Vancas on the play, making it a 1-0 contest after one.

Vancas looked strong on the mound in the second sending the Eagles down in order. He struck out two Obama batters up his total to three heading into the third.

Offensively, Bellefonte continued its strong play into the second.

Cam Lucas walked to start off the inning. He moved to third when Coach Jon Clark called a hit and run and Braeden Fortney hit it into right field.

Lucas scored on a wild pitch as Fortney moved to second.

Henry Carsen kept things rolling as he also hustled out an infield hit, putting runners on the corners with on one out and the top of the order getting ready to go.

Fortney scored on another wild pitch. On the play Carsen moved to third.

Vancas followed with a walk.

Lehman put down a successful suicide squeeze to score Carsen, upping the Bellefonte lead to 4-0.

Mattern cleared the bases as he roped a blazing single into center, upping the lead to 6-0.

Thornburg put the punctuation on the scoreboard as he hit a moon shot over the left centerfield fence to score Mattern and himself.

When the dust settled in the bottom of the second, the Red Raiders padded its lead to 10-0.

Defensively, the Red Raiders quietly sent down the side in the Eagles third at bat.

In the third, Bellefonte sealed the deal as they pounded out five runs to end the contest at 15-0.

Bellefonte will be back in action Monday against the winner coming out of the WPIAL.