Bellefonte edges St. Mary’s with defensive gem
Apr 29, 2023

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – It all came down to one throw and one play at the plate to decide Saturday’s non-league contest between Bellefonte and St.Mary’s baseball teams.

“We hit the ball well and we did some really good things out there defensively to help us,” said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “We struggled a little on the mound at times, getting behind in counts and they were able to capitalize on them.”

With two outs, Braedyn Kormanic on the mound for Bellefonte, the Dutchman’s Ben Porkalob singled with the bases loaded. The hit would score Lucas Bauer to make it 11-10. But on the hit the Red Raiders centerfielder Alex Ebeling set a screaming throw to catcher Charles Kellog-Long. Long blocked the plate with his glove, ending the game as he tug out Jordan Campbell, taking the victory 11-10.

On a soggy Saturday morning, the Bellefonte baseball team was looking to end the week on a high note against  St. Mary’s.

Picking up the win on the day was Cameron Lucas.

Taking the loss was Flying Dutchman hurler Ben Paul. Kormanic got the save.

Bellefonte was led offensively by Trevor Johnson, Triston  Heckman  and Kormanic all had two hit each.

After posting an 8-0 lead, the Red Raiders had to fend off a late-game rally by the Flying Dutchman to take the victory.

But the Flying Dutchman would rally in the fifth, sixth and seventh to make the nail biting ending.

In the first, Trevor Johnson got his team going offensively, hitting a first pitch home run that cleared the centerfield fence, going up 1-0.

But the Red Raiders weren’t done yet in the inning.

With one out, Alex Ebeling walked as did teammate Braedyn Kormanic.

That would set the stage for Dominic Capperella. Capperella did not disappoint as he roped a sizzling shot into centerfield, scoring Ebeling and Kormanic to give Bellefonte a 3-0 advantage after one.

The Red Raider lead would stay at 3-0 until the bottom of the fourth.

In the fourth, St Mary’s made some noise on the base paths, loading the bases looking to put one across.

In the bottom of the inning, Nosh Brown led off with a walk. As did Johnson, putting runners on first and second.

Vancas smacked a single into left field, scoring Brown and moving Johnson to third.

Ebeling brought in Johnson as he hit a high flying sacrifice fly into the outfield.

Heckman got runners back on base as he singled into right centerfield. Kormanic reached hustling out an infield RBI single. As he scored Vancas.

Levi Purnell and Caleb Stock finished off the inning with RBI singles, making it an 8-0 advantage.

St. Mary’s got on the board in the top of the fifth, posting three, cutting things to an 8-3 contest.

But Bellefonte’s offense added a run in the bottom of the inning thanks to another Ebeling RBI.

However, the Flying Dutchman refused to go down without a fight, adding three more on the scoreboard in the sixth.

But a clutch hit by Brown and walks to Johnson, Ebeling and Vancas loaded the bases. Ebeling would walk with the bases loaded to add to his RBI total. Heckman added a second run on a sacrifice fly, making it an 11-6 contest.

That would lead to the drama in the seventh.

But the Red Raiders would get the out they needed as the took home the victory.

Bellefonte 11, St. Mary’s  10

SM 000 033  4- 10 10 0

BE 300  412   X-11 14 0

WP: Cameron Lucas

LP: Ben Paul

Multiple hitters: SM – Vinnie Lenze  Logan Mosier, Lucas Bauer   . Bellefonte – Trevor Johnson 2-for-4, Triston  Heckman  2-for-4, Braedyn Kormanic 2-for-2 Peyton Vancas 2-for-3, Dominic Capperella 2-for-5.

HR: BE – Trevor Johnson. SM – None.

3B: None.

2B: BE – Dominic Capperella, Peyton Vancas  . SM – None.

Follow TeamCHX

on Facebook!

www.Facebook.com/TeamCHX