STORY, PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY COACH BILLY ESTOK

 

Last Thursday, Bridgeport Middle School played its first home game of the 2024 season. Their opponent that sunny but chilly evening was the Taylor County Lady Knights

 

BMS won 12-4.

 

Chloe Barlow was the starting pitcher for BMS. She retired the first batter on a called third strike. She walked the next three batters. She got out the bases loaded jam by striking out the next batter and got the following hitter to pop out to shortstop.

 

In the bottom of the first, Avery Humble hit a two out double to centerfield. She came around to score the first run of the game on two wild pitches.

 

With one out in the top of the second, Addison Mike came on in relief of Barlow. She held the Lady Knights scoreless by pitching out of another bases loaded jam.

 

In the bottom half of the second, Amayah Clark started the inning with a walk and a steal of second. A wild pitch moved Clark to third and that was followed by a walk to Mike, who promptly stole second. Breanna Laxton walked to load the bases. One out later, Olivia Bell singled to score Clark and Mike and move Laxton to third. Bell stole second. With two out, Humble tripled and that brought both Laxton and Bell home. A wild pitch saw Humble cross the plate. Madilyn Fittro followed with a single and steal of second. Madilyn Isch then smashed a hit to right field that scored Fittro. After two innings of play, BMS was up 7-0.

 

The Lady Knights scored twice in the third. Two singles, two walks, a BMS throwing error, a wild pitch, and a passed ball resulted in the scoring.

 

The Lady Braves responded by putting three more runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. With one out, Laxton walked and stole second. Emma Dale doubled and that plated Laxton. Dale scored on a double off the bat of Bell, who quickly stole third. Sylvia Devono grounded out to second with Bell scoring on the play. BMS now had a 10-2 lead,

 

BMS extended its lead to 12-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Clark singled with one out. She then stole second. Mike followed with a walk. Both successfully completed a double steal to put runners on second and third. Laxton grounded out to second and Clark crossed the plate on the play, and Mike advanced to third. Mike scored on a wild pitch.

 

Taylor County completed the scoring by scoring twice in the top of the fifth to make the score 12-4. The game ended at that point via the mercy rule.

 

The win improved the Lady Braves record to 4-0 on the 2024 season.

 

Barlow pitched one and one-third innings for BMS. Her pitching line was zero runs, three walks, and three strikeouts.

 

Mike pitched the final three and two-thirds innings for the pitching win. Her season record is now 2-0. Her line was four runs, three hits, eight walks, and eight strikeouts.

 

The Lady Braves return to action on Thursday, April 4, with a home game against the Washington Irving Lady Hill Toppers. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m.