BROWNSTOWN
All morning long, the weather radar looked suspect.
While it rained from start to finish on the diamond, it didn’t slow down Brownstown Central’s softball team against Madison.
The Braves collected 15 hits in a 17-4, run-ruled win over the Cubs Saturday morning.
“We knew it was going to rain, so we told the girls to jump on them early,” Braves coach Monte Ault said. “After five innings, they could’ve called the game (because of the field conditions). I was really pleased with how we come out and hit the ball. We hit the ball hard. We’ve been wanting hits from the top and bottom of the order, and we’re starting to get that now. We’re getting in a groove. We have some good hitters.”
The Braves (9-7) went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI double from Alli Reynolds.
The lead ballooned in the second inning, as Emily Singleton, Zoe Fountain and Addy Krieger each hit RBI doubles to push it to 4-0. Krieger later came home on an error to pus the advantage to five.
In the third, Claire Poulton scored on an error before the Braves loaded the bases with one out. Rehgen Stuckwisch scored on a Madison error before Krieger drove in a run to make it 8-0.
The Braves added three runs, thanks to an errant throw that went past the Cubs’ first baseman, to go up by 11. Poulton made it back to the plate before the inning was over, and smashed a two-run homer to give the Braves a 13-0 lead.
Fountain drove in two runs with a double and Krieger and Poulton each had RBI singles in the fourth inning to keep the Braves up big.
The Cubs’ offense found some life in the top of the fifth, but it was too late. Kenendy Stidham had an RBI double before Keara Edger scored in an unusual way. Erin Singleton, the Braves’ pitcher, wound up for a pitch and dropped the ball before delivery. Edger stole home on the play, and a ball was given to the count. While Morgan CaHall blasted an RBI double to cut the deficit to 13, the Cubs couldn’t come back.
Fountain led the Braves with four hits — to go along with as many RBIs — Krieger had three and Singleton and Poulton each totaled two.
Singleton recorded six strikeouts while giving up seven hits and walking three.
Brownstown Central hosts Columbus North tonight for a non-conference game.
“I think we haven’t played our best softball yet,” Ault said. “We’re starting to put the ball more in play and our defense has been solid. Saying that, I hope it doesn’t jinx us.”
