Trace Baker

WINDBER — Trace Baker tossed a six-inning gem to lead the Northern Bedford Panthers to a 4-2 victory over the Meyersdale Red Raiders at the Windber Sports Complex in the District 5 Class 1A baseball semifinals on Sunday afternoon.

In Baker’s outstanding outing, he allowed just two hits, one walk and two unearned runs while striking out 11 hitters. Along with his performance on the mound, the Panthers collected clutch hits and played a complete game.

“Trace Baker threw a great game for us,” Northern Bedford coach Ryan Cherry said. “That’s who we wanted on the mound at that time. That single by Ty Kagarise to score a fourth run was clutch. We had another opportunity in the seventh, but we didn’t and came through and finished it.”

The No. 3 seeded Panthers move on to the District 5 1A championship on Wednesday against top-seeded Southern Fulton at a site and time to be announced.

Southern Fulton advanced with a 3-2 win over Berlin Brothersvalley. The Panthers lost to the Indians earlier this season, 7-5.

Northern Bedford wasted no time getting out in front of second-seeded Meyersdale in the first inning. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, Carter Watson drilled a line drive to right field, plating the first run of the game.

Then, in the third inning, an error and a single put another runner in scoring position for Watson. On the first pitch, Watson laid down a bunt to bring home another run.

That sacrifice bunt proved huge for the Panthers as the Red Raiders gained some momentum in the bottom half of the third. Baker got the first two batters out and struck out the third, but a dropped third strike and a bobble put the runner on first.

Meyersdale capitalized on the mistake with back-to-back singles to tie the game. Spencer Whitfield drove in a run, and a throwing error on the play allowed the tying run to score.

“When you lose the lead on a dropped third strike, with two outs, that could have deflated us right there,” Cherry said.

The Panthers managed to regain the lead in the fifth inning when Jordan Free hit a go-ahead single. Then Kagarise followed by driving Free home with a single of his own.

From there, Baker dominated until reaching his pitch limit. Kolson Feathers came in for the seventh and allowed two base runners but struck out two for the save.

Aside from a few rough innings, it was a big pitching duel. Meyersdale starter Aiden Thomas went toe-to-toe with Baker and tossed a complete game. He allowed six hits and one walk, while striking out six.

“Aiden is a dog, and he’s been our best arm all year long,” Meyersdale coach Stephen Stanley said. “He’s one of the best arms in this area, and he will be going places when he’s done with school here. We had a lot of confidence in him but weren’t able to make the plays behind him. They did a good job putting the ball in play, but we didn’t make enough of those plays to win today.”

NORTHERN BEDFORD (4): Feathers cf-p 411, Free ss 321, Kagarise 2b 302, Watson 1b 211, Snider dh 300, Weitzel c 000, Bowers lf 300, Swanseen 3b 300, Lloyd rf 300, Baker p-cf 211. Totals – 26-4-6

MEYERSDALE (2): Yoder ss 311, Whitfield 1b 211, Thomas p 300, Ludy dh 300, R. Ritchey rf 000, Vogt 2b 301, Hainsworth 2b 300, Kimble cf 300, Lowery c 200, T. Ritchey pr 000, Brown lf 310. Totals – 26-2-3

SCORE BY INNINGS

Northern Bedford 101 020 0–4 6 2

Meyersdale 002 000 0–2 3 3

E–Free, Feathers; Hainsworth, Thomas, Brown. RBI–Watson 2, Free, Kagarise; Whitfield. WP–Baker. LP–Thomas. SO–Baker 11, Feathers 2; Thomas 6. BB‚Baker 1, Thomas 1.

Records: Northern Bedford (12-9); Meyersdale (16-6).