SUBMITTED BY BRIDGEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL COACHING STAFF

 

Wednesday was a warm and sunny day as Bridgeport Middle School boarded a Harrison County school bus and headed to Ritchie County to play the Lady Blazers.  These same two teams attempted to play each other on Monday evening but were unable to do so due to a persistent rain which contributed to poor field conditions.

 

Unfortunately, the trip ended with a 9-8 setback. It was the first loss of the year for BMS.

 

The game started out well for the Lady Braves.  In the top of the first, Corinne Lalama and Lyda Sandy started the contest with back-to-back walks.  Both of them scored when Shea Hefner tripled to right centerfield.  Unfortunately, Hefner was stranded at third as the next three Lady Braves were retired in order.

 

Johnna Hull was the starting pitcher for the Lady Braves. She held RCMS scoreless in the bottom of the first and retired the side in order.  She struck out two of the three batters she faced.

 

In the bottom of the second, Carigan Hayes singled for RCMS with one out. Haley Nutt reached base on a BMS infield throwing error.  Kayla Testerman followed with a single and that scored Hayes.  Hull then retired the next two Lady Blazers.  At the end of two, BMS held a 2-1 advantage.

 

BMS extended its lead the third when Shea Hefner started the frame with a single. Hefner came around to score on a triple by Paige Humble. The lead was now 3-1 in favor of BMS.

 

The Lady Braves added five more runs in their half of the fourth inning.  Maci Cook stated things with a walk and a steal of second base. One out later, Sandy reached first base on a dropped third strike and that allowed Cook to move to third. Hefner followed with a single that scored Cook and moved Sandy to third base. Hefner then stole second base. The next batter, Katie Via made, it to first on a dropped third strike.  As RCMS attempted to throw Via out, Sandy scored and Hefner made it to third. Humble then doubled scoring both Hefner and Via. Olivia Kesling followed with a double of her own that plated Humble.  In the middle of the fourth, BMS held an 8-1 lead.

 

The Lady Blazers responded with a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Hayes singled with one out, moved to second via a stolen base, and went to third on a passed ball. Hayes scored on a ground out to shortstop by Nutt.  The scoreboard now read BMS 8 and RCMS 2.

 

In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Blazers scored seven times.  The inning started harmlessly with a strike out of Chaslyn Jones. The next eight Lady Blazers reached base safely by combination of five base hits, a walk, and two costly BMS infield throwing errors.  Of those eight batters, seven scored before BMS was able to retire the side.  After five, RCMS now had a 9-8 lead.

 

BMS was retired in order in the sixth.

 

In the seventh, Cook worked out a two-out walk. Shen then stole second and was the potential game tying run. However, she was stranded at second as the final batter struck out.

 

With the setback, BMS's record now stands at 8 wins and 1 loss.

 

Hull pitched a valiant complete game for BMS. In her six innings of work, she allowed 9 runs, 8 were unearned runs, 7 hits, 2 walks, and had 6 strikeouts. Hull’s record is now 4-1 on the season.

 

The Lady Braves return to play this afternoon at the Bridgeport Softball Field as they host Mountaineer Middle School.  First pitch is set for 5 p.m.  It will also be eighth grade recognition night.

 

Editor's Note: Photo shows pitcher Johnna Hull.