Mirror photo by Michael Boytim Tyrone’s Brayden Parsons is doubled up at first as Bellwood-Antis’ Curtis Shedlock scoops up the throw.

TYRONE — Coming off winning the Altoona Curve Classic championship, Tyrone’s high school baseball team was on alert heading into a home game against rival Bellwood-Antis Monday afternoon.

The Golden Eagles looked a bit shaky at the plate in the first two innings before regaining their composure and enjoying an 11-run bottom of the third inning that accounted for all of the game’s scoring in an 11-0, five-inning, triumph over the Blue Devils.

“I was worried, because I know (Bellwood-Antis) can hit better (than they showed today),” Tyrone coach Kevin Soellner said. “They can play ball. I know how bad they want to beat us, because it is a rivalry. Today was a perfect setup for a team to get us, but if we keep playing like we played last week, we’ll be in every game for sure.”

Tyrone had eight of its 11 hits, drew three walks and took advantage of three Blue Devil errors in the third inning.

“We knew we had to adjust, because we knew we were going to face some pitching that was slower than what we have seen (last week),” Soellner said. “A couple batters were still way ahead of it, but overall, we squared them up. We kept battling, and that’s the biggest thing I am asking right now is to battle.”

Starting pitcher Brandon McClure led off the bottom of the third with a walk and went to second on a groundout. Jon Stroup, Wyatt Kustenbauder, Conner McClure, Owen Oakes, Braylon Plummer and Connor Zupon followed with six consecutive singles. Colton Frye walked to reload the bases, Brandon McClure walked again to drive in a run and Brayden Parsons and Stroup each followed with RBI singles.

Back-to-back Blue Devil errors allowed the final two runs to come home.

“Today was just a bad game. We couldn’t get out of our own way,” Bellwood-Antis coach Adam Plummer said. “It wasn’t our day, and it seemed like we didn’t come prepared. I’ll take responsibility for that with us not prepared and not showing up ready to play. Hats off to them. Their pitcher threw well. They made defensive plays and got timely hitting when they needed it.”

The 11 runs were far more than Brandon McClure needed on the mound. The senior struck out seven and allowed just two hits in five shutout innings after not pitching for the Golden Eagles during the three games in the Curve Classic.

“He understands the bigger picture and is set up to throw the games I want him to throw,” Soellner said. “When he’s on, he’s tough.”

McClure enjoyed the chance to beat Tyrone’s rival despite the fact it came at the expense of not pitching at PNG Field.

“The Backyard Brawl is always a fun time,” Brandon McClure said. “I wanted to pitch in the Classic. I have never done it, but I know we’re in a position where we need wins, so I’m doing what I can do for the guys so we can get into a position we know we can get to.”

The Golden Eagles improved to 7-5 and currently sit at No. 4 in the District 6 Class 3A baseball playoff field, which is led by state-ranked Richland, Huntingdon and Philipsburg-Osceola.

“I feel like we’re pretty much rolling on all cylinders right now,” Brandon McClure said. “The bats are coming alive. The arms on the mound are doing really well. The defense is definitely getting better. I feel like we’re in a good spot.”

Bellwood-Antis, which got singles from Jackson Dorminy and Landon Sneath, fell to 4-4.

“We have been battling,” Plummer said. “We have been facing some good pitching in the conference and battling. We had a good game the other day against Clearfield where we battled and came away with a two-run win. The trajectory was going upwards until today.”

The Blue Devils currently stand at No. 3 in the Class 2A playoff field.

“It’s a long season,” Plummer said. “We have 12 more games left.”

BELLWOOD-ANTIS (0): Dorminy cf 301, McConnell 3b 200, Swogger c 200, Plummer 2b 200, Bardell ss 000, Sneath dh 201, McCarthy rf 100, Mock p 100, Shanafelt p 000, Moser p 000, Shedlock 1b 200, Partner lf 200. Totals — 17-0-2.

TYRONE (11): Parsons c 302, Fletcher cr 010, Stroup ss 322, Kustenbauder cf 312, C. McClure 1b 311, Oakes rf 311, Plummer lf 311, Zupon 2b 212, Frye 3b 110, B. McClure p 100, Pierce cr 020. Totals — 22-11-11.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Bellwood-Antis 00 0 00X X– 0 2 3

Tyrone 00(11) 0XX X–11 11 0

E–Bardell, Shedlock, Dorminy. RBI–Kustenbauder 2, C. McClure 2, Parsons, Stroup, Oakes, Zupon, B. McClure. WP–B. McClure. LP–Mock. SO–B. McClure 7. BB–B. McClure 2, Shanafelt 2, Moser 2, Mock 1.

Records: Bellwood-Antis (4-4); Tyrone (7-5).