Braves Get Spring Break Softball Victory over RLBMS
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on April 04, 2023
SUBMITTED BY COACH BILLY ESTOK
There is an old saying that home cooking is good for the soul. In softball, home cooking means playing on your home field. The home cooking was exactly what Bridgeport Middle School needed as they returned to their winning ways by defeating Robert L. Bland Middle 
School 13-4 Monday afternoon, April 3, at the Bridgeport Softball Field.
School 13-4 Monday afternoon, April 3, at the Bridgeport Softball Field.
The Lady Patriots scored twice in the top of the first. A leadoff walk and a steal of second and third was how the game started. One out later, a batter was hit by a pitch and stole second. The next batter grounded out to first to bring home the first run. A wild pitch allowed the second run to score.
The Lady Braves responded with four runs of their own in the bottom pf the first. With one out Mia Shaughnessy walked and stole second. Avery Humble and Mahaylee Messenger followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases. Madilyn Fittro was hit by a pitch to plate the first run. Wild pitches allowed Humble and Messenger to score and Fittro moved to third. BMS starting pitcher Chloe Barlow followed with a walk and an uncontested steal of second. Another wild pitch permitted Fittro to score. After an inning, BMS was up 4-2.
In the bottom of the second, one out walks to Gracia Knight, Shaughnessy, and Humble loaded the bases. Messenger worked out a walk to bring Knight home. Fittro reached on an error that plated Shaughnessy. A wild pitch scored Humble. Barlow was walked to load the bases again. Addyson Edwards was hit by a pitch to bring Messenger across the plate. Two wild pitches scored Fittro and Barlow. After two, BMS was up 10-2.
In the BMS third, Knight singled to left and stole second with one out. Shaughnessy reached first on a dropped third strike and Knight took third. Shaughnessy then stole second base. With two out, Messenger singled to left and both Knight and Shaughnessy came around to score and the Lady Braves were up 12-2.
Barlow held the Lady Patriots scoreless in the second and third innings. In the top of the fourth, two leadoff walks and two singles gave the Lady Patriots two more runs to close the gap to 12-4.
BMS completed the scoring in the bottom of the fourth. Barlow started the scoring with a leadoff single. Edwards was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. The Lady Patriots completed a double play and Barlow scored from second base on the play.
Barlow held the Lady Patriots scoreless in the fifth to end the game via the mercy rule with a 13-4 BMS victory.
Barlow pitched the complete game victory and improved her pitching record to 2-2 on the season. Her pitching line read five innings, four runs, three hits, three walks, five batters hit by a pitch, and 10 strikeouts.
The Lady Braves return to game action next Monday, April 10, as they hit the road to play the Elkins Lady Hornets. Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.
The Lady Braves junior varsity team will play the junior varsity team from East Fairmont Middle School on Wednesday night at Wave Tek. The game is set to start at 6:30 p.m.
Editor's Note: Photos courtesy of Britani Edwards Photography; photos submitted by Coach Billy Estok.
