1972 District Tournament

"We thought it might all end here for a while. But I have an awful lot of faith in my boys. Essentially what I was telling them was to just keep hitting the ball. Both myself and Houser (Norm, team coach) are very proud of the boys coming back. We think they learned more coming from behind than they would have by scoring all those runs at the beginning." - Manager Andy Thal - Horlacher, B. (1972, July 15). Bellefonte Rally Beats Gap, 16-3. Centre Daily Times, p7.

Horlacher, B. (1972, July 15). Bellefonte Rally Beats Gap, 16-3. Centre Daily Times, p7. 

Bellefonte Rally Beats Gap, 16-3

 Entertains Nittany Valley Monday:

By BILL HORLACHER Times Sports Writer

"We believe in the base hit," said Manager Andy Thal of the Bellefonte Little League All Stars.

A universal baseball feeling it may be, but Thal's simple confidence in "the base hit" was almost shattered last night against Pleasant Gap. After four innings, Bellefonte trailed 3-0 while outhitting the opposition, 5-4.

Bellefonte, however, "kept the faith," and the result was a 16-3 first game walloping of Pleasant Gap at Bellefonte's Webster Field.

Missed opportunities frustrated the winners through the early innings while Pleasant Gap put together a tidy collection of runs. But despite all kinds of pressure, Thal's group of 11 and 12 year-olds came up with a rally that eventually produced eight runs.

"We thought it might be the end here for a while," Thal said. "But I have an awful lot of faith in my boys. Essentially what I was telling them was to just keep hitting the ball.

"Both myself and Houser (Norm, team coach) are very proud of the boys for coming back. We think they learned more coming from behind than they would have by scoring all those runs at the beginning."

Certainly Bellefonte seemed to be a well-schooled team by the game's end. Most noticeable was a base running craft rarely seen at the Little League level - twice the winners used the threat of a runner at third to brazenly advance a teammate to second. The same situation netted several stolen bases.

Pleasant Gap, meanwhile, was putting forth a strong effort in the early innings. Their three early runs resulted from a good mix of hit batsmen, singles and Bellefonte errors.

With their regular field ravaged by the recent floods, the Pleasant Gap players entered their opening tournament game with only a few practices on Potts Field's softball diamond to prepare them. Scott Perryman, their starting pitcher, was able to hold off Bellefonte until the fifth inning despite the fact that he had not pitched an actual game for over three weeks. "He pitched batting practice a couple of times, but that's not like playing in a ball game," observed Pleasant Gap League President Ed Drapcho.

Todd McCartney opened the critical Bellefonte fifth with a solid single to left field. An out later, Pat Masullo walked and then Bob Alterio reached base on an error. McCartney scored on the play, and a promising trend was established.

Singles by Greg Brown, Randy McMullen and Masullo, added to a double by Dave Smith and an assortment of walks and errors, completed the eight-run attack. Thirteen men came to the plate in the inning.

And twelve men came to bat in the sixth when the winners duplicated their first eight-run explosion. This time, only three hits were needed, but one was a three-run homer by Bart Clevenstine. Clevenstine, who had just come off the bench, connected for a line drive on Perryman's first pitch.

The winning pitcher for Bellefonte was Randy Haagen, a big right-hander. Haagen struck out 13 batters and walked only one. Pitching in relief for Pleasant Gap was Duane Franks.

Bellefonte will entertain Nittany Valley Monday in a second round contest of District 10's Southern Tier. The game at Webster Field will begin at 6 p.m.

The box score:

Horlacher, B. (1972, July 18). Bellefonte Posts 13-6 Win. Centre Daily Times, p14. 

'Slams Stop Nittany Valley:

Bellefonte Posts 13-6 Win

By BILL HORLACHER Times Sports Writer

That special feeling that only a grand slam home run can produce. Bellefonte Little League All Star fans enjoyed it last night...twice.

And the grand slams of Dave Smith and Greg Brown - coupled with the three-run homer of John DeHaas - lifted Bellefonte to a 13-6 victory over Nittany Valley on Bellefonte's Webster Field.

No one enjoyed the feeling more than the winning manager, Andy Thal. Maybe the authoritative "ping" of his teams aluminum bats didn't quite send a shiver up his spine, but just about.. "It was a feeling of pleasure," said Thal, "but we know the power's there. We stress hitting the ball on the button."

As for the reaction of Nittany Valley Manager John Morgan: "It was heartbreaking, especially to see the pitcher working hard out there, and suddenly the bases are clear and four runs are in."

But the display of Bellefonte power could hardly be considered a sudden display. With its 16-3 win over Pleasant Gap Friday, Thal's team has amassed a total of 29 runs on 25 hits, four of them home runs.

From the Nittany Valley standpoint, losing in the manner it did can't be totally disturbing. As Morgan said, "I was really pleased; I thought we showed a lot. Last year it was kind of discouraging to lose 18-1. We had a lot of kids returning this year and to see those kids come back and give them a real battle was great."

Bellefonte jumped off to a five-run first inning. Tod McCartney belted a double; his effort was followed by a singe from Randy McMullen and a walk to Pat Masullo. Another walk - to Bob Alterio - forced in the first run.

But Smith was not content to see his team score in such a passive manner. Twice he swung hard enough to blow the air out of the infield. Then with a 1-2 count he sent Jim Golden's high fast ball sailing over the fence in left-center field.

A lone run was forged with two outs already recorded in the Bellefonte second. Masullo walked and moved to second on Alterio's single. Masullo scored when Smith's ground ball was mishandled by the infield.

But in the third Nittany Valley shook off the depression of a 6-0 deficit and began to show the kind of determination that was pleasing Morgan.

Ron Fry started things off with a walk. Chris Dodds also took a base on balls, and both runners were moved up on a wild pitch by Greg Brown. Terry Brush smashed a left field single that easily scored Fry. When the ball was booted in the outfield, Dodds was also able to come home, while Brush reached second.

Rich Hornstein continued the comeback by bouncing a double over the right field fence, Brush scoring on the shot. Hornstein trotted home with the last run of the inning when starting pitcher Jim Golden singled up the middle and the ball was misplayed in center field.

Two fourth inning runs allowed the visitors to tie the score. Kevin Michael took the first pitch of the inning and slashed it over the left filed fence.

Fry again walked to continue the offense. Wayne Hackman singled him up a base before Dodds apparently grounded out. Dodds' ground ball was fielded smoothly by the Bellefonte second baseman, but he attempted to get Fry at third, and all runners were safe.

An out later, Brush grounded to the infield, but Fry was able to beat the ball home in tying the score. Bellefonte third baseman Brown ended the home team's fear with an unassisted double play.

Bellefonte got very serious with the bat as it entered the bottom of the fourth. Masullo walked and reached second on Alterio's single. Nittany Valley got the lead runner when Smith grounded out, but the bases were filled on a walk to DeHaas.

It was then Brown's turn to play the power hitter. He sent a 1-1 pitch among the fans behind center field to provide Bellefonte with the eventual winning runs.

DeHaas closed the scoring with another center field blast an inning later. Masullo and Alterio scored ahead of him.

Alterio, pitching in relief of Brown, received credit for the victory. He took the mound in the fourth inning, and got the unassisted double play from Brown, to get out of trouble. McCartney provided a fifth inning double play to give Alterio all the additoinal help he needed.

Bellefonte will continue tournament play tonight when it entertains Suburban at 6 p.m.

The box score:

Baker, D. (1972, July 21). Bellefonte, DuBois Reach Finals. Centre Daily Times, p16. 

Bellefonte, DuBois Reach Finals

By DAVE BAKER Times Sports Writer

Philipsburg dream for a District Little League title ended in an abrupt nightmare last night at Webster Field. Bellefonte's frenzied attack awoke after a short nap and created a bad dream that would have kept any insomniac up all night.

And the effect was so striking that the visitors couldn't even manage simple things like touching home plate on a home run and sliding into bases.

It will be Bellefonte and DuBois in the District 10 title game this year. The game will be tomorrow at 6 p.m. in Clearfield at Lee Field.

Here are directions for fans who plan to go to Lee Field. Enter Clearfield via Rt. 322 and bear right at the foot of the hill. Cross Nichols Street bridge and make a left hand turn at the second stop light from the bridge. Follow Weaver Street to Lee Field.

Bellefonte was the district champ in 1969 and DuBois won the honor two years ago en route to the state championship. Bellefonte eliminated Philipsburg, 13-4, and DuBois sank Ridgeway, 3-2, in tier finals last night. "We tell our players always to keep plugging," Bellefonte Manager Andy Thal said. "We tell them to keep playing hard from the first inning to the last inning."

A word that rhymes with "plug" would more likely describe Bellefonte. That word is "slug."

The winners pounded out 12 hits and concentrated 11 of them in their scoring innings.

Bellefonte trailed, 1-0, after two innings, but came back with five runs in the third and sent some fans home early.

Tod McCartney, now batting .583 for the playoffs, ripped a single to right field and took second on a passed ball. Randy McMullen bounced a hit up the middle and took second when the throw came to the plate to stop McCartney from scoring.

Pat Masullo and Bob Alterio walked to force in a run and after the second out of the inning, John DeHaas lined a two-run single to right and winning pitcher Greg Brown bounced a book rule double over the left field fence for two more runs.

In the fourth, Bellefonte batted around again. McCartney slammed losing pitcher Phil Blazosky's 2-1 pitch over the left field fence for a leadoff homer. Pat Masullo walked and with two outs scored from second on Dave Smith's single.

Smith took second on the throw to the plate and Blazosky promptly wild-pitched him to third. After a walk to DeHaas, Brown was safe on an error and Bart Clevenstine doubled in the last two runs of the inning.

Bellefonte added its final three runs in the seventh. Brad Fritchman singled and Craig Heckman forced him at second before consecutive singles by Brown, Don Drapcho and Don Holderman for three runs.

"I was really pleased with kids, because they have really played and practiced awfully hard," Thal said. "I just can't say enough about the way they've played so far."

"I didn't know what to expect tonight," Thal continued, "Their pitcher had a good reputation and I told that to the kids, but I also told them that we had a pretty good team too."

Holderman came on to get the final three outs for Brown. Against Nittany Valley, Brown needed relief after three innings and wasn't involved in the decision, but he held Philipsburg at bay last night.

In the fifth, Dave Wilson of Philipsburg homered over the left field wall with one down, but forgot to touch home plate. He slid back into the place as catcher Alterio too Brown's throw and was safe.

Then Jerry Motter walked and overslid the bag at second after he had advanced on a wild pitch. He was tagged out for the second out.

Blazosky then followed with the inning's second homer and, to make sure, he went back and tagged the bag.

The DuBois-Ridgway game was decided by two homers. Randy Lochitski slammed a three-run homer in the top of the first for DuBois and Bing Carlson countered with a home run with a man aboard in the bottom of the first tor Ridgway. And that was all the scoring in the game.

The winner of District 10 will meet the winner of District 12 next week in the start of the inter-district competition. That game will be played in District 10, most likely in the Southern Tier. Nittany Valley's Gill Field is a likely site for the game.

Bracken, R. (1972, July 24). DuBois Ends Bellefonte Hopes, 11-8. Centre Daily Times, p18. 

DuBois Ends Bellefonte Hopes, 11-8

By RON BRACKEN Times Sports Writer

Bellefonte may have had trouble pronouncing Tony Caracciolo's name but spelling it was no problem at all.

Because to Manger Andy Thal and his crew, Caracciolo was spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e as the DuBois catcher-pitcher almost singlehandedly destroyed their vision of advancing in the Little League playoff tournament. DuBois won an 11-8 slugfest to capture the District 10 title at Clearfield's Kurtz Field Saturday evening.

Caracciolo, who started the game behind the plate, moved to the mound in the third inning after Bellefonte had taken a 7-0 lead. And while even he couldn't completely stop the Bellefonte hitters, he slowed them down enough to allow his teammates to get back in the game. He yielded three hits and three runs but he and his mates were beginning to find the range at the plate. Caracciolo rapped out a pair of homers and a double and collected five RBI's to lead the way on offense. His second homer, a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth, ended the game.

"I was a little worried when I put him in to pitch, I didn't know what to expect," laughed DuBois Manager Don Guthridge. "Tonight was the first he has pitched in the playoffs. We knew Bellefonte had a good hitting club and I got a little worried when we got behind by seven runs. But I knew they couldn't keep our kids down and then when we got those six runs in one inning I began to feel a lot better."

"They hit the ball on the button," Thal said. "They do the same thing our kids do - hit the ball on the button. That's the worst Randy Haagen has been hit all year. In fact both of my kids were good pitchers but those guys were just hitting everything. Some of those home runs hit tonight would have been out of here even if the fences would have moved back some."

Bellefonte opened the game with the same offensive power it has displayed throughout the playoffs as a single by Randy McMullen, and a fielder's choice preceded Bob Alterio's home run, giving Haagen a two-run lead to work with.

DuBois starter Randy Lockitski yielded three more runs in the second on a single by Greg Brown, a double by Bart Clevenstine, a two-run single by Haagen and a book rule double by McMullen.

Caracciolo got off to a rocky start when he relieved Lockitski in the third. Alterio greeted him with a double but the next two batters went down on strikes before Brown ripped a homer to make it 7-0. Caracciolo retired the next batter on a ground ball and not another Bellefonte runner hit safely until Brown homered to right in the sixth to tie it up at 8-8.

Some shoddy defensive play in the third inning opened the gates for DuBois as singles by Bill Kulbacki and Jeff Heath were surrounded by two errors. A walk to Lockitski, a double by Caracciolo and Brad Smith's three-run homer made it , 7-6, before the next two batters grounded out to stop the uprising.

Kulbacki homered to tie it up in the fourth against Alterio and Caracciolo's leadoff homer in the fifth gave DuBois the lead.

With the score knotted at 8-8 going into the bottom of the sixth, Lockitski drew his second walk of the evening before Dan Oberholser's grounder forced Heath at third. Caracciolo followed by driving the ball far beyond the fence in right center to demolish Bellefonte's dream.

The game saw seven homers leave the park, three for Bellefonte and four for DuBois, and there were five doubles, three by Bellefonte and two by DuBois.

Caracciolo didn't give up a walk and fanned seven to win it while Alterio was the loser. Brown had three hits for Bellefonte while Alterio and McMullen had two apiece. Caracciolo had three for DuBois and Smith, Heath and Kubacki had two each.

The box score: