State College eliminates tough Big Valley team

By rscaife
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Updated: July 8, 2017

By Kenny Varner

STATE COLLEGE – They left everything on the field.
After falling behind 9-1 against State College Maroon’s 9-10 year old all-stars the scrappy kids from Big Valley cut into the lead in the fifth, plating four as the game went to 9-5.
But State College, who defeated Big Valley the first time the met 20-1, picked up six runs in the bottom of the fifth, picking up the 15-5 victory and ending Big Valley’s successful run in the District 5 post season.
“They battled this time. It was a much different ball game. Unlike the first one which was 20-1,” Big Valley manager Shawn Wagner said. “You can’t take anything away from that (State College) team. They hit the ball well. They are well coached. They know what to do. They were hitting the ball and finding the gaps.”
Big Valley was led offensively by the 2-for-2 effort by lead off hitter Evan Strohecker. He also scored two runs. Teammate Jack Diehl just missed hitting a round tripper and had to settle for a stand up double but finished with 2 RBIs.
State College was led by its lead off hitter Sebastian Rhoades who went 3-for-4 with two triples, one run scored and five RBIs.
Starting pitcher Asher Cunningham helped his own cause at the plate posting a 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs.
Donovan Moorehead brought in 2RBIs.
Cunningham went up against Brayden Sunderland on the mound.
The Maroon pitcher allowed one run on four hits in four innings on the mound.
In the process, he struck out eight.
Big Valley opened the game with the early 1-0 advantage.
Strohecker had a flare for the dramatics early on, plastering a triple to the gap in right center. He then scored on a wild pitch, making it 1-0.
Defensively, “the Red and White” attack showed its defensive prowess as it ended the inning when Finn Powers grounded out to Jacob Bauman. Bauman gunned down Rhoades who was heading for home, keeping the 1-0 lead as the two teams went into the second.
Cunningham kept the Big Valley bats at bay, giving his offense a chance to plate some runs.
State College took the lead in the bottom of the inning, led by Rhoades 2-RBI double that scored Chris Warner and Eddie Corkery. Earlier in the inning, Micheal Gaul scored on an RBI Corkery.
One bad inning early on hurt Big Valley as the bottom of the third produced six runs, upping its lead to 9-1.
The score would remain the same until the top of the fifth when Big Valley made one last strong effort to get back into the game.
Patience and hard effort proved to pay off as Big Valley rallied for a 4-run inning, cutting it to 9-5.
Strohecker walked and stole second and moved to third on an infield hit by Logan Alexander.
Both moved up a base when they advanced on a wild pitch, closing the gap at 9-2.
Alexander later scored on a fielders choice, creeping up to 9-3.
Later on, Jacob Bauman and Nathan Parkes scored on a huge hit by Diehl, ending the Big Valley scoring at 9-5.
However, State College hits started to fall again in the fifth, posting six runs and ending the at 15-5.
However, Big Valley ended its season with a record of 3-2.