Daniel Boone rolled over Lebanon 55-0 last week. The Blazers handed the Cedars their 53rd consecutive loss. Ruffner ran for 180 yards and four touchdowns. What’s really amazing is that he only needed six carries to put up those numbers. “I gotta give it all to my line. They played a big part in blocking for me and getting me down the field,” noted Ruffner. That offensive line is comprised of four juniors and 290-pound sophomore Dylan Beto. Beto and Jabrae Pratt (6’2, 285) are the tackles with Colt Saudarg (5’11, 270) at center. Chace Jardin and Timmy Kretzman are the guards. They’re joined by senior Tiegan Rickard, a key blocker at tight end. Daniel Boone finished with 397 yards against Lebanon, including 345 on the ground.

Ruffner certainly isn’t the biggest running back in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The 5’6, 155-pound junior gave some advice to younger players who may be undersized. “Don’t ever stop the grind and don’t get down on yourself. You always gotta keep pushing yourself to be better,” emphasized Ruffner. Quarterback Dominic Stoudt can also carry the rock for the Blazers. The 5’10, 190-pound senior ended up with 89 yards and 2 TD on 11 carries. Stoudt was 2-of-4 for 17 yards through the air in Week 1. Jardin, a 195-pound DE, led the defense with six tackles. “He laid the hammer last game. He was running through everybody like a train,” said Ruffner.

Daniel Boone hosts Pottstown this Thursday at 7pm. The Trojans hammered Harriton 53-0 last week. Harriton has decided to suspend its season due to low participation and player safety concerns. Ruffner is optimistic about getting to (2-0). “I think we have a good chance of having another successful game. We gotta have more good blocks,” he stated.

Greyson Bell held Pottsville to one hit in four innings with seven strikeouts and no walks. The 6’2, 185-pound lefty is rated the #4 prospect in the Class of 2028 by Baseball America. Bell was on the USA U15 team last year and pitched in the Pan American Championships in Mexico. The highly-touted sophomore lived up to the hype. “He’s unbelievable. His work ethic and his pitches are phenomenal. He throws real hard for a high school kid and his spin on his off-speed [pitches] is above major league average which generates a lot of swing and misses,” explained head coach Kolbie Reeser. Bell’s fastball has been up to 92 mph this year. He said he reached 94 mph last September. Bell was limited to 53 pitches on Saturday and 40 were strikes.

Ian Jacob, a hard-throwing righty, took over on the mound in the fifth inning. The 6’5 junior can also crank it up to 92 mph. He walked Brody Hess to begin the frame. After a single by Andrew Allen, Harrison Ciavarella ripped a 2-run triple to center. Christian Alvarez, the lone senior in Pottsville’s starting lineup, got down a sacrifice bunt back to Jacob that made it 3-0. In the bottom of the fifth, Rynard worked out of a jam to keep Daniel Boone off the board. He got back-to-back strikeouts with a man on third and one out.

Hess tossed a 1-2-3 sixth inning for the Tide, but he ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh. The Blazers came alive with three runs on three hits and a walk. “I’m proud of the way we fought,” replied Reeser. A single by Maddox Roy got the rally started with one out. After Jacob was hit by a pitch, Owen Howells lofted a bloop single. The throw from right field went out of play making it 3-1. A throwing error by Allen at shortstop got Daniel Boone within 3-2. Following an infield single by sophomore Jace Michener, freshman Logan Lester drew a bases loaded walk to even the score at 3-3. There was still only one out when Bell, the Blazers’ leadoff hitter, came to the plate. He hit a ground ball right back to Hess who threw home for a force out. Chase Yenser, who’s committed to Baylor for golf, then flew out to center to end the seventh inning.

Jacob walked with two outs in the eighth, but Howells grounded out to second base to end the game. Jacob allowed four runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out five over four innings and 74 pitches. Hess gave up three runs on three hits in two innings. He hit one batter and walked another. Trout picked up the win in relief. Pottsville finished with six hits and Daniel Boone had four. Hess, a junior second baseman, went 2-for-2 with two walks and a run.

Reeser is in his first year at the helm of the Blazers. The 2020 Gov. Mifflin graduate was the head coach at Tulpehocken last season. Reeser, who’s working with seven returning starters, has set the bar high. “We’re gonna respect every team we play, but we’ll fear nobody,” he stated. Reeser added, “I told them all the time to clear their calendars in June because that’s when the state title is at. It’s pasted in our locker room; county title, district title, and state title. The only way to get there is to believe in it.”