From staff reports
BELLEFONTE - Something interesting happened Friday at O'Leary Field when Mifflin County came to battle Bellefonte.
For the better part of this year, Hannah Cooper has been an All-State catcher, who pitches when Bellefonte needs her. Friday, Cooper showed up as a bona fide pitching ace - holding the Huskies to five hits in a 1-0 Bellefonte victory.
"It is fantastic to be able to put her on the mound," Bellefonte coach Gregg Kohlhepp said. "She has done such phenomal job for us. We talked about it (the need for a starter) in the off season and she stepped up."
If there are two sides to Cooper, both did their job today. From the circle, she kept the Mifflin County bats quiet for most of the day. The few times she got into trouble, the ace settled in and went to work.
After a Jordan Myers walk and Kale Hunter single, the Huskies were threatening. Runners on first and second, with no outs.
What did Cooper do?
She simply struck out the next three batters.
From the dish, she went 2-for-3, with two doubles. Her double in the fifth ended up being the difference on the scoreboard.
As stellar as Cooper was from the circle, Mifflin County sophomore Shelby Lyter was just as impressive. She held the dangerous Bellefonte lineup to only four hits, while striking out six.
Mifflin County (9-4) heads to Central Mountain for a tournament today.
Softball
Mount Union 2, Bellewood Antis 3 (10 Innings )
BELLWOOD - The Mount Union softball team had to move some defenders around after their shortstop was injured on Thursday, but the Trojans found the new positions a but challengeing and made sme costly mistakes as they lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Bellwood-Antis on Friday.
The Trojans got nine hits on the night but could only get in two runs and committed four errors on the afternoon as coach Matt Fiscus knew the team was in an awkward position.
"Our shortstop was injured last night and we had a lot of players out of position, the girls fought hard but we just made to many mistakes,errors in the field and on the bases and against a good team it's going to cost you in the end like it did tonight.
Both pitchers went all ten innings as Alley smith struck out seven for the Trojans and Taylor Paine rung up 10 for the Blue-Devils. Fiscus praised his pitcher for a great game
"Alley pitched a great game and deserved a better fate. we couldn't get the bunt down either, we practice it a lot but we just didn't get it done tonight."
The Trojans fall to 12-3 with the loss and will host Claysburg on Monday.
Halifax 6, Greenwood 4
HALIFAX - Halifax put Greenwood on base eight times, but the visiting Wildcats were unable to take advantage, dropping a 6-4 decision in Tri-Valley League softball Friday.
Greenwood was held to nothing more than a single and no one had more than one.
"The bottom line is, if you don't hit the ball and don't field the ball you're not going to win," Greenwood coach Troy Gantt said. "They're pitchers did a nice job of keeping us balance. (We were) not exactly real opportunistic today."
Greenwood (11-4, 5-4) hosts Northern today.
District 6 tennis
ALTOONA - In what has become a perennial outcome in District 6 tennis, State College will face itself for the Class AAA singles title.
Mifflin County's Jeremy Koller was among the last to be eliminated, making it to the semifinals before being ousted in straight sets. In the quarters, he won a pair against Merritt Hall of Central Mountain, 6-2, 6-2.
Connor Saltzer, who also represented the Huskies in the tournament, fell to Altoona in the opening round.
Mifflin County has back-to-back home matches Monday and Tuesday. The doubles tournament begins May 4.
Babe Ruth baseball
Beaver Springs 15, Belltown 4
BELLTOWN - Two Beaver Springs pitchers combined for a one-hitter Friday night as it downed Belltown, 15-4, in the only game played in the Mifflin County Babe Ruth League. The game ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
The loss was the first of the season for Belltown (2-1) and it was the first win of the season for Beaver Springs (1-1).
Aaron Sharp went four innings for the Springs as he struck out six gave up the hit and walked seven.
Ty Ross closed out the game with a four strike out performance as the lead off man for Belltown got on first as the third strike was a wild pitch.
Beaver Springs opened the game quickly as it scored five times in the first inning.
The Springs had 11 hits as Tyson Troutman led the way with three hits. Tyler Arbogast and Hunter Shuff each had two hits. Shuff had a double and Troutman knocked in three runs.
Belltown's only hit came in the third inning as Levi Baumgardner singled home a run.
