HYDE – The fact that the Bellefonte Area High School softball team rolled into the Bison Sports Complex Monday with a 5-0 record even though Raychel DeArmitt, 6-0 for last year’s District 6 Class AAA championship team, had not been involved in a decision was evidence of the 2010 Lady Raiders’ potential.
DeArmitt, making her second start, authored a five-inning two-hitter with nine strikeouts against Clearfield while every Lady Raider had at least one hit in an 11-1 non-league win that ended early because of the 10-run Mercy Rule.
The Lady Bisons, who will be joining the Lady Raiders in the Mountain Athletic Conference next season, went down in order in every inning except the fourth.
B.J. Bowman broke up DeArmitt’s perfecto by dropping a two-out single behind shortstop Erica Pooler, and Suzie Colesar followed with a double to left center.
After Melinda Owens was the beneficiary of DeArmitt’s lone walk, a throwing error on a pick-off attempt at first base cost the junior right-hander a shutout.
DeArmitt, who had racked up 12 strikeouts in a pair of three-inning appearances, one a save, then made it four innings in a row with two strikeouts to squelch Clearfield’s only threat.
“They’re a good team, but how many called strikes did we look at?” Lady Bison coach Bob Dixon asked. “If you aren’t aggressive against a good pitcher, once they get ahead of you, then you’re done.
“We hit well in Altoona (Friday), and I thought the bats were coming alive, but we didn’t swing the bats tonight. It was just one of those nights.”
Clearfield tumbled to 1-4 for Wednesday’s District 9 Northern Allegany League Big School Division and Central Penn League game at Punxsutawney.
Meanwhile, Bellefonte lived up to its billing as a prime contender for its 10th District 6 title in 11 years with 15 hits off Lady Bison freshman Heather Picard.
Back-to-back home runs by Lock Haven University-bound Erica Pooler and Hannah Cooper in the second inning were all DeArmitt really needed.
Bellefonte, boasting eight returning starters, posted four runs in each of the next two frames.
Christina Stathes led the visitors with three consecutive singles, while Pooler, Danielle Gomola and Brittany Smith chipped in two hits apiece.
See pictures of the game here: http://www.ladybisonsports.org/lbsSBall041210.html
BELLEFONTE — 11
Danielle Gomola cf 4120, Erica DeVinney lf-3b 4110, Brittany Smith 2b 3120, Jess Gmerek 2b 1011, Christina Stathes 3b 3231, Alexandra Stathes lf 1000, Emily Dauberman rf 3112, Heidi Fetterolf pr-rf 1100, Erica Pooler ss 2322, Hannah Cooper c 3111, Raychel DeArmitt p 3011, Meranda Poorman 1b 3011. TOTALS: 31 11 15 9.
CLEARFIELD — 1
Andrea Butler ss 2000, Janell Zalno lf 2000, B.J. Bowman cf 2110, Suzie Colesar 1b 2010, Melinda Owens 2b 1000, Rachel Cordon dp 2000, Mia Keener 3b 2000, Makenzie Moore c 2000, Lindsey Samsel rf 2000, Heather Picard p (flex) 0000. TOTALS: 17 1 2 0.
Score by Innings
Bellefonte 024 41 – 11 15 1
Clearfield 000 10 – 1 2 2
Errors – Cooper; Colesar, Keener. PB – Moore 1. LOB – Bellefonte 6; Clearfield 2. 2B – Dauberman, DeArmitt, Poorman; Colesar. HR – Pooler, Cooper.
Pitching
Bellefonte – DeArmitt 5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K.
Clearfield – Picard 5 IP, 15 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
WP – Picard 3.
W – DeArmitt (1-0). L – Picard (1-2).
Umpires – Kenny Knepp (plate); Bud Brennen (bases).