Bald Eagle Area bounced back from its season-opening loss with wins over Hollidaysburg, 5-1, on Tuesday, March 26, and Huntingdon, 12-0, in five innings on Thursday, March 28.
Bald Eagle Area star pitcher Sierra Albright tossed a one-hitter against Huntingdon at home. Albright, who excelled in the pitching circle last season, struck out nine and walked one.
“She pitched a really smart game but had a solid defense behind her,” BEA coach Don Lucas said. “Offensively, we supported her efforts with timely hitting.”
She got offensive support from Taylor Habovick, who had three hits and two runs scored. BEA’s Ava Stere and Addysn Burns had two hits apiece, with Stere doubling and driving in four and Burns delivering three RBIs.
Against Hollidaysburg on the road, Albright tossed a four-hitter, struck out 11 and walked one.
Alyssa King blasted a three-run home run, while Burns and Alexa Baney had two hits apiece. Kendra Uberti came through with a pinch hit to drive in a run.
BEA (2-1) was scheduled to play at Philipsburg-Osceola on Tuesday, April 2, prior to The Gazette’s publishing deadline and will host Central Cambria on Friday, April 5.
Bellefonte offense erupts again
Bellefonte’s offense erupted again in a 25-10, four-inning win over Central at home on Wednesday, March 27.
The 2-0 Lady Red Raiders, who scored 17 runs in their first game, pounded out 25 hits, including 11 extra base hits, and scored 14 runs in the third inning.
Ragan Manning had five hits, including a home run and five RBIs. Jaylee Lose and Madison Ripka delivered four hits apiece, including a double. Lose knocked in four runs. Mackenzie Ellenberger had three hits, including two home runs, a double and five RBIs.
Sadie Ripka, Grace Novitsky and Taylor Brown also had three hits. Novitsky and Brown had two doubles apiece. Sadie Ripka and Lose also doubled.
Bellefonte won the junior varsity game, 19-3.
The Lady Red Raiders are scheduled to host Forest Hills on April 5, and Hollidaysburg the next day at 10 a.m.
Lady Rams go 2-1
Penns Valley opened the season by going 2-1 in a week, earning wins over Mifflinburg, 5-4, on Monday, March 25, and over Central, 11-5, on Thursday, March 28, and losing at Huntingdon in nine innings, 6-5, on Tuesday, March 26, against Huntingdon — which scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Penns Valley’s Taylor Bumgardner had two hits and three RBIs and Elle Dinges rapped two hits.
Bumgardner took the pitching loss in relief of Dinges. Bumgardner struck out five, walked one and gave up four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Dinges struck out six, walked two and yielded four hits.
Both teams made six errors, and there were only three earned runs.
The Lady Rams pounded 11 hits against Mifflinburg, including three from Dinges and two from Bumgardner.
Bumgardner struck out 11, walked four and gave up five hits in seven innings.
“The girls battled hard all game,” Penns Valley coach Terry Bumgardner said. “We faced a good pitcher and a good Mifflinburg team. The ladies made plays in some clutch moments to get the win.”
Penns Valley was scheduled to play three road games against Bellwood-Antis on Tuesday, April 2, and Mount Union on Wednesday, April 3, prior to The Gazette’s publishing deadline and will play Tyrone at noon on Saturday, April 6.
Lady Mounties pound Bellewood-Antis
Philipsburg-Osceola went 1-1 in the second week of the season, pounding Bellwood-Antis, 17-4, in six innings on Tuesday, March 26, on the road and losing 13-5 to Hollidaysburg on Thursday, March 28, at the Curtis Park Athletic Complex.
Philipsburg-Osceola leadoff hitter Ashlynn Havens and Macie Bush had two hits apiece. Emily Gustkey, Maddy Hampton and Lainee Conklin each drove in two runs. The Lady Mounties took advantage of 11 B-A errors.
Pitcher Alivia Bizzarri struck out 14, walked two and gave up five hits in six innings.
Philipsburg-Osceola couldn’t come back from the seven runs Hollidaysburg scored in the third inning and the seven errors it committed in the loss.
Havens had two hits, while Payton Barnett had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Bush tripled and scored two runs.
Bizzarri struck out six, walked seven, gave up nine hits and only gave up two earned runs.
The Lady Mounties (1-2) were scheduled to host Bald Eagle Area on Tuesday, April 2, prior to The Gazette’s publishing deadline, and will play Westmont Hilltop on Friday, April 5.
WolfPack tamed
Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy couldn’t overcome an 11-run first inning by East Juniata in a 17-2 loss in three innings on Thursday, March 28, on the road.
Saint Joseph cleanup hitter Jordyn Rose delivered a two-run double in top of the first inning. Teammate Katie Pase had two of her team’s three hits and three stolen bases from the leadoff position.
The WolfPack (0-2) were scheduled to play East Juniata again at home on Monday, April 1, but it was postponed due to wet grounds. SJCA was also scheduled to play at Halifax on Wednesday, April 3, before The Gazette’s publishing deadline, and will host Newport on Friday, April 5.
State College set to open season
State College was set to finally open the season on Tuesday, April 2, at Chambersburg and is scheduled to host Cedar Cliff on Thursday, April 4, and DuBois Central Catholic on Friday, April 5.
