LEWISTOWN - It was the shot heard all around Mifflin County Saturday as Belleville slugger Kyle Peachey blasted a 2-run home run over the center field fence with teammate Ethan Eichorn aboard giving Belleville all the runs it would need to top a spunky bunch from the Reedsville Tigers, 6-0, in this year's edition of the Little League major division Super Series held at Lewistown's Frank E. Pupo Memorial Field.
"We kind of played like we did all year. Defense was the hallmark," Belleville coach Matt Torquato said. "They came ready to play. From top to bottom it was 12-year olds making plays and 9-year olds making plays. They all stepped up and hit the ball when we had to."
In the first inning, Eichorn got the ball rolling for Belleville picking up a one-out single. Peachey then stepped in and blasted his round-tripper, putting Belleville ahead 2-0.
Article Photos
Sentinel photo by MATT?STRICKER
Reedsville Shortstop Ryan Walker, left, places a tag on Belleville’s Caleb Yoder (27) in the top fourth inning Saturday at the Major Division Super Series in Lewistown. Backing up the play is Reedsville’s Aaron Kanagy.
Teammate Jacob Yoder kept the offense going, drawing a walk. Kaden Milliron added a single, putting runners on the corners for Hunter Eckley as he stepped to the plate. Eckley did not disappoint, hustling out an infield single and picking up an RBI in the process and upping the lead to 3-0.
With two outs, Jarrod King doubled in the final two runs of the inning, as Milliron and Eckley reached home, making it 5-0 as the teams headed into the bottom of the first.
From there both defenses took over as the game flew by in less than an hour as the two went into the sixth inning.
"I'm smiling right now, a 20-win season and a Big Valley regular-season championship. I can't ask for anything more from this team," Reedsville coach Kevin Walker said. "Belleville's a great team we fell a little short tonight and just couldn't get the hits when we needed it. So, they won the postseason title and we won the regular-season title. We've been kind of battling back and forth throughout the year. It's been a good rivalry."
Again, Belleville was able to add to its lead in the final inning to take a 6-0 lead into the Tigers' final frame.
Though Reedsville showed patience at the plate in the sixth inning and had runners in scoring position, Belleville's defense held on and maintained the shutout and the victory.
Ironically, it was Belleville that gave Reedsville its lone loss during the season, ending its 20-plus game win streak in the process.
Reedsville finished the season with a record of 20-2.
But the night belonged to the team from Belleville as it proved it had what it took to be crowned Super Series champion.
This year, Big Valley Little League was well represented in the Super Series as three of the top four teams were from the BVLL.
In the consolation game, the Burnham Lions, Mifflin County Youth Baseball's lone representative in the semifinals, faced off against Big Valley's Yeagertown Chiefs.
