.

By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Tuesday at Bellefonte it was a Senior day special as the tough battling Red Raiders baseball team went up against a feisty Penns Valley team in Laurel Highlands action at John Montgomery Ward field in Governor’s Park.

Honored by the Bellefonte were seniors Caleb Auman, Parker Capperelle and Peyton Vancas.

Peyton Vancas took the mound for the Red Raiders where he went up against Rams’ hurler Gavin Neidel.

Two senior helped pace the way for the Red Raiders.  Vancas was tough on the mound going the distance, allowing a scattering of four hits on the afternoon in the 11-0 five inning victory.

“I thought we showed up ready to play today. Our guys were attacking early. We’ve had an up and down year at times but these guys have kept grinding and kept working so there’s been a lot of games we were close to pulling it out. But we came up short but that helps you grow as the year goes on,” said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “Having a day like today feels good when it seems like a lot of things are going well for you.”

Offensively Auman sizzled going 2-for-3 posting 4RBIs.

Bellefonte finished with 11 runs and 11 hits on the day.

In the first, Penns Valley got lead off hit by lead off hitter Rylan Birge. However, the Red Raiders defense forced a double play and Vancas struck out Brayden Kurtz to end the potential threat.

Bellefonte got things started offensively in the bottom of the first .

Capperelle led things off with a double, starting the rally.

Evan Mattern singled, putting runners on first and third.

Oliver Thornburg walked to load the bases.

Zach Lehman put Bellefonte on the board picking up an RBI walk.

Auman cleared the bases as he roped a 3RBI double to centerfield, making it a 4-0 advantage.

It was a De Ja Vue in the second for Penns Valley as they got a lead off single by Colby Miller only to see it turn into another double play and a strikeout.

Bellefonte continued its offensive charge in their part of the second. Carsen Henry blasted a shot that tipped off the second baseman’s glove and into fight field for the single. Vancas followed with a walk.

Capperelle took a 3-2 count and doubled into left center, scoring Henry and moving Vancas to third.

Mattern picked up 2RBIs as he blasted a shot into right centerfield, upping the Red Raiders lead to 7-0.

Red Raiders coach Jon Clark called a hit and run and Oliver Thornburg worked it to perfection as Mattern went to third. He later scored on an error by Penns Valley, upping it to a 9-0 advantage.

Auman made it 10-0 as he bounced into an RBI fielders choice.

Bellefonte went through the line up in the inning.

When the dust settled in the inning, the Red Raiders upped their lead to double digits,10-0 posting six runs on six hits.

Penns Valley got a line drive single past third by Isaac Harpster but could not muster any runs as Vancas and company was again tough, keeping the Rams scoreless in the third.

Vancas opened the third with a walk. He moved up on a wild pitch.

But Penns Valley shut it down from there, keeping Bellefonte off the board.

However, in the fourth, the Red Raiders added to their lead, posting a run, upping the lead to 11-0.

That would be all the Red Raiders needed en route to the 11-run victory.

Bellefonte will be in action May 12th as they go up against Clearfield at home.

Bellefonte  11, Penns Valley 0

PV 000 00x x – 0 4 2

BE 460 1xx x -11 11 0

WP: Peyton Vancas

LP: Gavin Neidel

Multiple hits: PV –   None. BE –   Parker Capperelle  2-for-4 RBi, 2runs, Evan Mattern 2-for-3 2runs, 2RBIs, Caleb Auman 2-for-3 4RBIs .

HR: PV –   None. BE –   None.

3B: PV –   None. BE –   None.

2B: PV –   . BE –   Caleb Auman, Parker Capperelle