SUBMITTED BY BRIDGEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH BILLY ESTOK

 

The Bridgeport Middle School softball team’s road show continued Wednesday. For the third straight game, they traveled to play, this time the trail took them to Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School. Unfortunately, the road didn’t prove kind in a 17-8 setback.

 

The Braves got on the scoreboard in quick fashion by scoring two runs in their first at bat. Maci Cook started things with a walk and then stole second. Maddie Garner followed with a double scoring Cook. Gabby Reep singled and Kylie Burke was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases. Two outs later, Rachel Mason was walked to bring home BMS’s second run.

 

B-UMS responded with a three spot of its own in the first. Meghan Bailey and Alyssa Rohr reached base safely by walk and a single, respectively. One out later, both came around to score as a result of an infield error and an outfield error.

 

BMS took no time in responding with a three-run counter of their own in the top of the second. With one out, Cook singled and advanced to second on a B-UMS infield throwing error. Garner and Reep reached base via walks. Burke brought home Cook and Garner with a single. One out later, Aaliyah Koch, who made her first start of the season, singled to left field and that brought Reep across the plate with the Lady Braves fifth run of the game.

 

Maddie Stallman was the starting pitcher for BMS. It was her middle school pitching debut. She retired the Lady Bucs in order in their half of the second.

 

In the bottom of the third, the Lady Bucs regained the lead. Bailey walked and Rohr singled. One out later, Shelby McDaniels reached on a BMS infield error and Bailey scored on the play. Robin Ball followed with a three-run home run over the centerfield fence and that gave the Lady Bucs a 7-5 advantage.

 

BMS regained the lead in the top of the fourth. Reep was walked to start the inning. Burke followed and was hit by a pitch. Katie Via tripled to leftfield bringing home Reep and Burke. Koch followed with a single that brought home Via and gave Koch two runs batted in for the day. BMS had regained the lead at 8-7.

 

However, the Lady Bucs scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead at 12-8. A double, two singles, a BMS infield error, two walks, a wild pitch, and a steal of home contributed to the scoring outburst.

 

The Lady Braves were held scoreless in their fifth and sixth innings. The Lady Bucs scored five more runs over the next two innings to claim the victory.     

 

Stallman pitched the first three and a third innings for the Lady Braves. She was tagged with the loss and is 0-1. Chloe Pethel pitched in relief to close out the game.

 

McDaniels was the starting pitcher for B-UMS and she went three innings. Rohr relieved McDaniels and finished the game for them and was credited with the pitching win.