STORY AND PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY BMS COACH BILLY ESTOK

 

On April 22, the Bridgeport Middle School Lady Braves returned to softball practice following time off for spring break. On April 23, they resumed softball action when they hosted the Buckhannon Upshur Lady Buccaneers at the Bridgeport Softball Field and took at 14-6 win.

 

Prior to the start of the game, Kaitlyn Archer-Lewis, a BMS eighth grader and member of the Lady Braves softball team, performed the National Anthem on her violin.

 

In the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Braves sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs. Four walks, one batter hit by a pitch, five stolen bases, two Lady Buccaneers infield errors and four passed balls contributed to the scoring. Crossing the plate for BMS were Kaylie Kwiatkowski, Molli Enfield, Rachel Mason, Jacey Laxton, Chloe Pethtel, and starting pitcher Maddie Stallman.

 

Buckhannon Upshur scored twice in the top of the second inning. A BMS infield error, two walks, and a BUMS single factored into the scoring.

 

The Lady Buccaneers held Bridgeport scoreless in the bottom of the second frame. In the top of the third, BUMS cut the Lady Braves lead to one run. Three BMS infield errors, one batter hit by a pitch, and a walk permitted the Lady Buccaneers to score three times. After the Lady Buccaneers scored their fifth run, BMS made a pitching change and brought Chloe Pethtel in to pitch. She stopped the BUMS rally by recording the final two outs of the inning with the bases loaded.

 

In the bottom of the third, BMS responded with a two out single by Kileigh Pugh. Pugh then stole second base. Maddie Stallman brought home Pugh on a BUMS infield error and came around to score on a throwing error on the same play. After three innings, BMS was up 8-5.

 

In the BUMS fourth, two walks and a single plated the Lady Buccaneers sixth run.

 

Kwiatkowski started the BMS fourth with a single and a steal of second base. Enfield followed with a walk and both advanced one base on a wild pitch. One out later, Laxton grounded out to third to score Kwiatkowski and move Enfield to third. Enfield scored on a BUMS wild pitch. After four innings of play, the Lady Braves held a 10-6 advantage.

 

Pethtel retired the Lady Buccaneers in order in the top of the sixth.

 

The Lady Braves completed the scoring in their half of sixth. With one out, Mason doubled down the leftfield line. Following a wild pitch and passed ball, Mason scored. Laxton then doubled to left. Pethtel followed with a walk and Archer-Lewis entered as her courtesy runner. Two wild pitches allowed Laxton to score and advanced Archer-Lewis to third. Maddie Garner singled to right and that brought Archer-Lewis home. Garner then stole second and moved to third on an infield single by Pugh. Pugh then stole second but Garner was tagged out in a run down at home trying to score on the play. Pugh came to third during the run down. A wild pitch permitted Pugh to score and end the game with a BMS 14-6 victory. 

 

Stallman was credited with pitching victory and that improved her pitching record to 2-1. Pethtel earned her first pitching save on the season.

 

The win also improved the Lady Braves overall season record to 5-1.

 

BMS returns to action on April 24 as they travel to Shinnston to take on Lincoln Middle School. Game time is set for 4:30p.m.