By Jim Dabbelt
Sports Writer

Junior Jon Ellerbrock pitched as well as he possibly could last week as the Bethel Bees hosted Bradford in a Cross County Conference game on April 21.  In fact, it was as well as anyone could have pitched.

Ellerbrock fired a no-hitter, striking out seven and escaping the lone threat the Roaders posed in the fourth inning, as the Bees rolled to a 10-0 league win in a run-ruled affair.
“Jon will carry us with his pitching, and he struggled in the one inning, but I was impressed how he pitched today” said Bethel coach Brett Brookhart.
In the fourth, the Roaders gave Bethel their only challenge.  Ellerbrock walked the bases loaded, and with two outs, he enduced a ground out to the second baseman, keeping the no-hitter and shutout intact.
“He is a great pitcher, and has been lacking a bit of confidence this year,” Brookhart said.  “We haven’t been playing very good defense behind him, but a game like this is one that can get him going.”
Bethel broke through in the opening inning, as Scott Young ripped a one-out double to left field, and after a ground out, a double by Colin Hoke drove in Young, and gave the Bees a quick 1-0 lead.
In the third, the Bees broke the game open.  Jordan Elam reached on an error and went to second on the play. 
One out later Young drove in a run with a double, and Gus Schweiterman followed with a double of his own, scoring another run for the Bees.
After Hoke struck out, the floodgates opened.  Following another run scoring double, Joseph Serrer was hit by a pitch, and Dustin Myers drove in a run with a single.
A walk loaded the bases, and Elam drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk.  Joe Zimmerman also drove in a run the hard way, being hit by a pitch, making it 7-0.
After Ellerbrock held off the scoring threat in the fourth, he came back and struck out two of the three in the fifth, setting up the thrilling finish.
Austin Staggs was hit by a pitch to open the fifth, and Zimmerman reached on an error. 
While Young was at the plate, a steal attempt went wrong for the Roaders, as the throw to second sailed into center field, allowing both runners to score.  A single by Young set up a triple from Gus Schweiterman, bringing in the winning run, and allowing Ellerbrock to enjoy the no-hitter.
“The big thing about today is that we are kind of playing a basketball schedule (with the rain), where we play a game, then off for 5-6 days,” said Brookhart. 
“To stay sharp, we did a good job hitting the ball today considering all the time off we have dealt with.”