Bellefonte softball falls 5-3 to Central Mountain in District 6 Class 5A championship
Travis Foster’s 2021 Bellefonte team won the District 6 Class 5A championship over Central Mountain.
Despite a 3-run push in the seventh inning by the Lady Raiders, 2022’s iteration of the district championship presented a different outcome. Bellefonte lost 5-3 to the Wildcats on Wednesday, ending its season.
The Lady Raiders entered the season with a great deal of turnover and changes to their core. Foster felt that his team handled adversity well with a number of underclassmen taking star roles on the team.
“That’s what I love about our kids, man — they just want to win,” Foster said. “They don’t care how old they are. They don’t care about who’s here, who’s not — they just want to win. That’s what Bellefonte softball is. It’s not about me, it’s not a person — it’s a program, it’s a history, it’s a culture and we’re thankful for it and we just want to continue.”
Tori Reichert was the lone senior on Bellefonte’s softball team this season. As a holdover from last year’s District 6 Class 5A championship team, she constantly reminded the team of what they could become — whether it was a district title contender or a consistent competitor.
She expects them to continue the legacy that past Bellefonte teams have built for them.
“I feel so grateful because these girls have worked so hard,” Reichert said. “Overall this season, they’ve gotten better and that’s all that I can ask for because next year, they’re going to be amazing. I just believe in them so much.”
Harley Kunes put Central Mountain up 2-0 with an RBI triple in the first inning, scoring Caitlyn Watson and Allison Liniger. The Wildcats struck once again in the second inning with starting pitcher Adalynn McKeague reaching on a single. With pinch runner Taylor Wahlers on-base, Gracie Saar hit a single to advance her to third. Wahlers eventually scored on a wild pitch. Saar scored on a double by Kunes and Watson also scored for a 5-0 lead over Bellefonte.
The Lady Raiders threatened in sixth inning with a single by Reichert and Sienna Barnhart. Then, Emma Shawley scored Reichert on an error to pull the game to 5-1.
Bellefonte needed every opportunity to come back, but wouldn’t get its best chance until the top of the seventh inning. Maria Cotter reached first base on a walk by McKeague. With Cotter in motion, Madison Melius slapped a single to score her. Reichert hit a single to follow Melius, prior to Barnhart striking out. Taylor Brown plated Melius to make it a 5-3 game.
Fred Caldwell’s Central Mountain team is set to play in the PIAA first round against DuBois. His biggest key to his team’s continued success is to pitch well and have each play field their positions well.
“I know that they have a good record and I don’t know much about them,” Caldwell said. “So, I guess we’ll find out … It’s important that we do what we do best. We can’t really stay out of ourselves.”
This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 9:38 PM.
