DRUMS – On Monday afternoon at Freedom Park’s Theory Field in Drums, the Bellefonte minor all-star baseball faced off against Greater Pittston in the first round of the state tournament. There, Bellefonte dominated on both sides of the field, blanking its opponent, 8-0, to advance winner’s semis.

Offensively, Bellefonte got started from the get-go and only briefly stopped, scoring three runs in the first before going on to score in four of the next five innings. That first-inning barrage was fueled by three straight hits from the team’s top of the order to lead things off and though Greater Pittston responded with a double play, Bellefonte responded right back with an RBI walk and two-RBI single.

After going up 3-0, Bellefonte notched an insurance run in the third, fourth and sixth, also posting a pair in the fifth. On the day, eight of its batters secured a hit, combining for nine. The team also fought for three walks.

Defensively, it rarely wavered, with one hit, one walk, two hit batters and two errors being the only plays that kept Bellefonte from a perfect game. Its pitchers combined for seven strikeouts to just two walks and one second-inning hit, fore fronting a sound, shutout effort from the team’s field.

Bellefonte retired the side in the third inning and faced four batters in the first, fourth and fifth. And on the rare occasions where it allowed multiple runners on base, it responded well.

In the second, Bellefonte posted a frame-ending strikeout with runners in scoring position, turning a two-runner, one-out situation into its second scoreless stanza and ultimately stringing together seven straight outs before hitting a batter in the fourth. And in the sixth, it swiftly turned around a two-runner, zero-out scenario with three straight outs.

Following Monday’s win, Bellefonte faces quick turnover, set to face Section 2 champ Mount Pleasant on Tuesday, one win away from Thursday’s winner’s final. That game is set for 4 p.m. at Theory Field.

PA Minor BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

Bellefonte 8, Greater Pittston 0

Bellefonte 301 121 – 8 9 2

G. Pittston 000 000 – 0 1 4

Bryson T., Oliver S. (3), Rylan S. (6) and Tanner C. and Caroline A. Rocco S., Joseph B. (3), Anthony C. (4), Anthony C. (6) and Colston T. W – Bryson. L – Rocco.

Top Bellefonte hitters: Kobie U. 2-3, RBI, run; Crew C. 1-3, 2 RBIs, run; Thomas T. 1-3, RBI, 2 runs; Isaac H. 1-2, RBI; Rylan S. 1-3, RBI. Top Greater Pittston hitters: Joseph B. 1-2.

Next game: vs. Mount Pleasant at 4 p.m. at Freedom Park, Drums, PA.