By Kenny Varner

BELLEFONTE – Making the most of what was given.

The Bellefonte baseball team notched a clutch win Thursday as the Red Raiders were able to manufacture a 4-0 win over Clearfield at John Montgomery Ward Field.

Led by hurler Peyton Vancas went the distance striking out four and scattering six hits in the contest. Bellefonte’s defense backed up their pitcher with inning ending plays to maintain the shut out throughout.

Offensively, the Red Raiders picked up only four hits but made the most of Clearfield’s nine walks.

“Peyton threw a lot of strikes for us. He kept the hitters off balanced a little bit and our defense was there when we needed them to make some plays,” said Bellefonte coach Jon Clark. “The bats weren’t quite where we wanted them today so we had to manufacture and scrape some things together and that’s exactly what they did. We know we can hit the ball batter than that.”

In the bottom of the first, Bellefonte put their first run across the plate.

Trevor Johnson reached on a lead off walk. He stole second and moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Alex Ebeling.

With two outs, Triston Heckman kept the inning alive with a walk as well.

Johnson would score on a delayed double steal, making it a 1-0 lead.

Vancas and company took care of the Bison in the second, sending them down 1-2-3.

Bellefonte scored again in the second, upping their lead to 2-0.

Dominic Capperella singled into the right to lead off the inning.

Teammate Levi Purnell moved Capperella to third on a single into right centerfield, putting runners on the corners.

A high flying sac fly to centerfield by Ryan Fraley allowed Capperella to tag and score easily from third.

After being held scoreless in the third and fourth, the Red Raiders added to their lead in the fifth.

Vancas helped his own cause starting the inning with a walk. Ebeling followed with a walk as well, putting runners on first and second and no outs. Heckman followed their lead, walking to load the bases.

Braedyn Kormanic bounced into a RBI fielders choice to add an insurance run.

Bellefonte added a run in the sixth. giving Vancas some room to work off the mound. He did just that as he maintained the shut out and ended the game getting three-of-four batters in the inning out en route to the victory.

Bellefonte is back in action Tuesday as it hosts Tyrone.