Following two losses to kick off last week, including one to Centre County rival Bald Eagle, the Red Raiders first responded by edging out Philipsburg-Osceola (6-3) on the road before carrying that momentum forward. One week removed from the aforementioned loss, they’d close out county play in cruise control.

Against Penns Valley (1-10) on a cold Monday afternoon, balance was the key to dominance. Bellefonte’s top four batters led a potent offensive attack, combining for nine of the team’s 11 hits, while Carsen Henry pitched a three-hit shutout from the mound, factors which helped it roll to a 13-0, five-inning victory.

With the win, the Red Raiders (10-3) became the first area team to surpass ten wins this season. Tough losses in recent weeks clouded their momentous 7-0 start, but back-to-back wins would indicate their mojo hasn’t left.

“I think we played really well,” said junior left fielder Evan Mattern on the win. “We were able to put a lot of pressure on the defense and make them make plays. And behind Carsen, who threw a great game, we made all the routine plays that we had to make.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Zach Lehman (30) runs to first after a hit during a high school baseball game at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

“Our guys are working hard. We’re always looking at how we can be better,” said Bellefonte manager Jon Clark on the team. “We just try to take it one game at a time and come into each game trying to give them our best game.”

Much like its response to prior losses, it took Bellefonte little time to set the tone on Monday. Four straight Red Raiders got on base to start, all three of which saw three plate appearances through the first three innings. And the team used that boost to quickly get out to an 8-0 lead through two.

In the first, a leadoff walk from Zach Lehman and three straight hits from Isaac Gall, Evan Mattern and Ollie Thornsburg got the ball rolling, with Thornsburg’s high grounder down the left field line getting Bellefonte on the board with two RBIs. Mattern would get home on a fielder’s choice two at-bats later before an RBI single from Dax Kreiger made it 4-0.

The second’s scoring was a tad less assured, as Penns Valley picked up its second out with one on.

But a fielding error granted Bellefonte a second runner. Then, Thornsburg and Parker VonGunden helped it make the most of the opportunity with two RBIs each, with VonGunden lodging a shot over the left-center fence for a two-RBI homer.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Ollie Thornburg (15) swings at a pitch during a high school baseball game at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

From there, the Rams would survive a similar third and retire the side in the fourth before the Bellefonte offense re-emerged for its strongest inning. Three hits and two walks came in the fifth, with Mattern’s two-RBI double to the fence serving as the dagger and upping Bellefonte’s lead to mercy-rule range.

“It was just a nice fastball right in there,” said Mattern when discussing the double. “When I see those, I try to hit them.”

Overall, offense was a large strong point in the win. Three innings saw Bellefonte log three or more hits, and the result was its sixth double-figure outing.

Six Red Raiders logged an RBI and at least one hit while their top of the order did the heavy lifting. At leadoff, Zach Lehman got on base on all four base appearances, finishing with three runs and hits. Mattern also scored thrice while batting home two, and Thornburg led the team with four RBIs.

“I thought we were patient at the plate. We didn’t try to do too much,” said Clark on the team’s offensive success. “We took good swings at some pitches and put pressure on when we had opportunities.”

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Evan Mattern (8) stands at second alongside manager Jon Clark after hitting a double during a high school baseball game at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

Defensively, Henry turned an up-and-down start into a masterclass. He’d issue his only two walks in the first inning and never allow an on-base appearance after three, scattering three hits while striking out eight.

Mild jams presented themselves early, but inning-closing strikeouts in the first and third stranded four combined runners. And in the fourth inning, Henry fell one ball short of an immaculate inning, pitching seven of the nine consecutive strikes required.

“At the beginning, I was kind of struggling to get my strikes down, but I’d say after the second, I was pretty dialed in. I don’t think I threw many balls after that,” said Henry on the performance. “I was really just trying to throw strikes, work the counts as best as I could and have fun throwing.”

“Carsen’s really won his last couple outings,” said Clark on Henry. “He’s just been pounding the zone really well and (developing) some of his other pitches.”

For Penns Valley, the silver linings came in strong defensive efforts in the third and fourth.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Parker VonGunden (11) slides safe at home plate during a high school baseball game at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

With the bases loaded in the third, right fielder Rylan Allegretto made a great effort to secure the last out, tracking down a deep liner that likely would’ve granted Thornsburg seven RBIs on the day. The outfield would go on to catch all three fly outs in the fourth as well, as Penns Valley completed its lone retirement.

Offensively, Rylan Birge, Parker Feltenberger and Allegretto made up the team’s three hits, Birge and Feltenberger’s coming back-to-back in the third. And defensively, Isaac Harpster did what he could in relief, striking out three through three innings pitched.

“We’re a young team, so we’re still building,” said Penns Valley manager Colton Treaster on the team.

“Only ten kids to work with, but other than that, I like where the program’s going. Today showed that we can compete when we can compete. Just got to eliminate the little errors, and we can be right back in the pack hopefully.”

Following the loss, the Rams will look to bounce back and end their eight-game skid in a road trip to Juniata (2-9) on Saturday, with that game set for 10 a.m. Bellefonte continues its six-game road stint next Monday, facing St. Mary’s at 4:15 p.m. with prospects of extending its current two-game win streak.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte baseball players gather at the mound during a high school baseball game at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

Bellefonte 13, Penns Valley 0

(5 INNINGS)

Bellefonte 440 05 – 13 11 1

Penns V. 000 00 – 0 3 3

Carsen Henry and Ollie Thornburg. Gavin Neideigh, Isaac Harpster (3) and Kaleb Nixon. W – Henry. L – Neideigh.

Top Bellefonte hitters: Zach Lehman 3-3, 3 runs; Evan Mattern 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 runs; Ollie Thornburg 2-4, 4 RBIs; Isaac Gall 2-4, RBI, 2 runs; Parker VonGunden 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs, 2 runs. Top Penns Valley hitters: Rylan Birge, Parker Feltenberger, Rylan Allegretto 1-2.

Records: Bellefonte 10-3 (7-2 Laurel Highlands); Penns Valley 1-10 (1-7 Laurel Highlands).

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Isaac Harpster (9) pitches during a high school baseball game against Bellefonte at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley baseball players gather at the mound during a high school baseball game against Bellefonte at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Penns Valley's Rylan Birge (21) sprints for first as Bellefonte attempts to tag him out during a high school baseball game against Bellefonte at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Evan Mattern (8) avoids an inerrant pitch during a high school baseball game at Penns Valley on Monday, April, 20, 2026. The Rams fell 13-0 in five innings.