DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
DECATUR – The Bellmont Braves might be finding their stride just at the right time in 2023.Â
Tuesday’s win over East Noble was certainly proof that when senior Eli Laurent is on the mound, the Braves will have a chance to advance in the postseason as the Olivet-bound starter struck out 15 batters and the Braves beat the Knights, 5-1.Â
On a game heard live on WZBD, all six runs were scored in the first 20 minutes of the ballgame, with the Braves jumping all over East Noble starter Gunner Wiley for five runs in the bottom half of the first inning.
That rally was aided by a string of hits by the Braves, beginning with a bunt single by Andrew James down the third base line and a rocket up the middle by Laurent.
Coach Tom Montgomery attempted to move both runners over by asking Austin Christner to bunt, but the Knights were able to get James at third.
Dylan Velez followed with a ground ball to short to score Laurent and the Braves caught a break when the EN second baseman could not handle a pop fly off the bat of Keagan Martin with two outs.
East Noble complicated things for themselves with a walk and then allowed a run to score with a passed ball, but it was a two-run double by Will Baker that was the key hit in the inning.
The way Laurent was pitching, he certainly didn’t need all five runs of support.
East Noble did lead off the game with a double, but the senior struck out the last two batters after the Knights sacrificed the runner over in the first.
Owen Ritchie and Carver Miller teamed up for a pair of doubles to score the only East Noble run in the game in the top of the second. From there, Laurent was lights out.
Laurent recorded 11 of the last 16 outs by strikeout and only allowed two base hits the rest of the way, leading the Braves to a winning record in the NE8 (4-3) after starting the year with three conference losses.Â
Martin had two hits for the Braves as the designated hitter, while Will Baker’s double was the only extra-base hit the home team had.
The Braves face Carroll at home Wednesday night, then Jay County on Thursday. Thursday’s game will be broadcast live on WZBD.