Red Raiders end era with win

By rscaife
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Updated: May 9, 2018

By Kenny Varner
BELLEFONTE – Going our in style.
In the last regular season game to ever be played at their home field, the Bellefonte baseball team wanted to give everyone one lasting memory of the legacy that is Red Raider baseball.
Pitcher Aston Wetzler added his signature to the Bellefonte 13-0 victory Central as he flirted with a no-hitter until the fourth.
He finished with a one-hitter in the process, striking out six in the five-inning run shortened game.
Offensively, up and down the line up the Red Raiders were potently tough finishing with four multiple hitters.
They were Dylan Deitrich 2-for-3 3runs, Eric Peggs 2-for-3 run, RBI, Colton Burd 3-For-3, 2RBI and Bobby Marsh 2-for-3 run, 3RBI.
Marsh also created his own personal memory, blasting a 2-run home run.
Central went through three pitchers in the contest as they combined for allowing 10 Bellefonte hits in the process.
“As we get closer to the end of the season we have a few more games left and we always says the next opponent is most important. But we also have some lofty goals moving forward. So the next couple games are getting ourselves prepared for the playoffs and those sorts of things. I liked our approach,” Bellefonte manager Jon Clark said. “We hit the ball hard. We adjusted to the pitching. We played hard on defense. There are always things you got to work on. If your not trying and your not coaching, those things aren’t happening so it was nice.”
After holding Central scoreless in the first, the Red Raiders’ offense was quick to make a statement.
Lead off hitter Dylan Deitrich got the inning started when he singled a high chopper into centerfield.
Cade Fortney followed up with a walk.
Both moved up on wild pitches, setting the stage for Colton Burd.
Burd smacked one in the outfield, scoring Deitrich and Fortney
With one swing of the bat by Burd, Deitrich and Fortney made their way home, making it 2-0.
Sporting two outs, Bobby Marsh blasted a long shot over the fence, upping the game to a 4-0 lead.
They weren’t done yet.
Wetzler and company completely shut down the Dragons in consecutive innings, giving the Red Raiders another chance to duplicate its first inning scoring.
Nick Capparelle got the inning started with a single of his own.
Deitrich reaches on an error while Capperelle moved up to third.
Eric Peggs scores both Capperelle and Deitrich on his single to the out field.
Peggs scored the hard way as he looked to be caught in a run down at third and Home but managed to put run the ball and escape the catchers tag. Burd also scores after he hit his second of three singles in the contest.
Bellefonte continues to plate runs going into the fifth.
The Red Raiders picked up five runs in the third, making it 13-0.
Defensively, Bellefonte took control and sent the Dragons down oneby one.
The blemish on the day was a Dragons infield single by Preston Karstetter, ruining the no-hit bid.
But in the end, the Red Raiders added one final page to finish the final chapter of the Red Raider lore.
“This was an important day for me and for the kids because this will be the last regular season game played here. If we host a playoff game, it might be here but it was the last regular season one” Clark added. “Knowing the history here you kind of had that little extra that we wanted to put our mark on the history here. It’s been a successful place long before I got here. Some great coaches and great players. It’s nice to see us stepping in and adding to it. Doing our part. “
Bellefonte is back in action Wednesday as it travels to Clearfield.