1976 District Tournament

’76 Little League All-Stars Picked.  (1976, July 13). Centre Daily Times, p15.

’76 Little League All-Stars Picked

Bellefonte will begin District 10 Little League (Southern Division) play Monday when it faces Pleasant Gap at Webster Field in Bellefonte. The game will start at 6 p.m.

Bellefonte’s 1976 All-Star team: Mike Mann, Jenks Shaw, Bill Gray and Mike Ripka of Bellefonte Lions; Greg McMullen, Pat Terpak, Jason Petuck and Tim DeHaas of Plumb’s Drugs; Mark Grey, Charlie Baney and Dave Rockey of Knights of Columbus; Jack Rackowski of Krout Pontiac; Doug Ishler and Jake Corman of Mid-State Bank.

Andy Thal will manage the 1976 All-Star team and Bucky Quici will assist him.

The Bellefonte-Pleasant Gap winner will face Suburban a week from tomorrow.

Flickinger, M. (1976, July 20).Bellefonte, Mountaintop Little Leaguers Victorious. Centre Daily Times, p14.

Bellefonte, Mountaintop Little Leaguers Victorious

By MIKE FLICKINGER Times Sports Writer

Bellefonte fans walked away from Webster Field last night fresh from seeing their little league all-stars pound Pleasant Gap, 20-1. Almost all of those fans were talking about one person – Greg McMullen.

If one guy can ever be called a one-man team – and no one can – Greg McMullen would have been right in there for the top spot last night. He hurled a three-hitter and had four hits in four trips to the plate, including two home runs, and seven RBIs, to lead Bellefonte to a first round win in the district playoffs and a second round game with Suburban at Bellefonte, tomorrow.

In other area games, Mountaintop pounded Moshannon Valley, 17-7, and Curwensville topped Tri-County, 14-6. Suburban had a bye.

Pleasant Gap drew first blood in the initial inning by jumping to a 1-0 lead in front of the bi-partisan crowd of around 400. Randy Wright led off with a single, and moved to second when Tom Workman was hit by a pitch. Wright then scored on a misplayed ball hit by Mike McCool for Pleasant Gap’s only run of the game.

Bellefonte came right back in the inning to score three runs on a two-run homer by McMullen over the leftfield fence. It added nine runs in the third inning, virtually icing the game. McMullen led off with a single and moved to second on a fielder’s choice. A walk by Doug Ishler loaded the bases and Tim DeHaas’ doubled emptied the bases.

Four successive walks scored two runs to set the stage for McMullen’s second hit of the inning – a grand slam. He then scored on a single by Jack Rackowski to account for the nine runs. Bellefonte tallied eight runs in the fifth inning to win; 20-1…

Schmidt, R.. (1976, July 23). Suburban Tops Bellefonte. Centre Daily Times, p18.

Suburban Tops Bellefonte

By ROB SCHMIDT Times Sports Writer

The Suburban Little League All-Stars hadn’t faced a left-handed pitcher all season. Today they’re glad they finally did.

The Bellefonte Little League All-Stars hadn’t faced Howie Witham all season. Today they wish they hadn’t.

Suburban pounded lefty Mike Mann and reliever Dave Rockey for eight runs in the first three innings and Witham tossed a four-hitter as Suburban took an easy 9-1 victory in District 10 playoff action at Bellefonte last night.

“I don’t think our league had a left-handed pitcher this year,” Suburban league president Dan Bernitt said. But it didn’t take the Suburban hitters long to adjust.

A two-out homer by Witham triggered the Suburban hitting barrage. Chris Farris followed with a single and moved to third on an error and a passed ball. He scored on Ken Hall’s single.

In the second inning, again the first two Suburban batters were retired, but consecutive base hits by Gary Mahute, Ed Washell and Witham sent Mann and his left arm to the showers. Chris Faris then met reliever Rockey with a three run double, giving Suburban a commanding 5-0 lead.

While his teammates built on the lead, Witham shut down Bellefonte over the first three innings, allowing only an infield single in the first.

Witham got in trouble only once, in the fourth inning. Bellefonte loaded the bases on a single by Greg McMullen, and infield error and a walk to Doug Ishler. With one out, Tim DeHaas flied to right, scoring McMullen, but Washell made a fine play at shortstop to end the threat.

“Howie is juist a super pitcher,” Suburban manager Jim Guseman said. “I have all the confidence in Howie, he did a great job out there tonight.”

Suburban scored three runs in the third inning. Steve Harpster followed a walk to Ken Hall and a double by Marc Hottenstein with a two-run single. Harpster scored with two outs on a single by Washell. Suburban’s final run came on Sean Phillip’s leftfield homer in the fifth.

“I just have to be pleased with our performance tonight,” Guseman said. Everybody hit the ball well and the boys played great as a unit. A week and a half of hard work paid off. I think we’re competitive with anybody.”

Suburban will have to play tonight if it expects to beat what appears to be a tough Lewistown team. Lewistown blanked Clearfield, 6-0, last night. The game is scheduled for Lewistown’s municipal field at 5:45 p.m.

The box score: