DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
As it has been the last few seasons, the early season rivalry game between South Adams and Bellmont was closely contested and featured four lead changes before Derek McKean crossed the plate to give the home Starfires a 5-4 walkoff victory Friday at Harry Anderson Field.
Derek Weaver, who drew the start for the Stars on the mound, delivered the winning hit with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. He came to the plate after the Braves elected to load the bases by intentionally walking Corey Lenington, loading them up after Derek McKean walked to lead off the inning and Luke Bauman reached on a fielder’s choice.
The Starfires put pressure on the Bellmont defense in the final inning with the bunting game.
With neither team enjoying a fair amount of practice outside in this wild spring weather, it was the opener for both rosters and the Stars scored first on an RBI hit by Luke Bauman, scoring Owen Wanner.
The Braves came back, however, against Weaver, plating three runs in the top of the third with a string of mistakes by the home team and a couple of timely hits by Gavin Krull and Delsyn Lee. Weaver was able to limit the damage after the third run of the inning scored on a wild pitch by striking out Layne LeMaster.
Manny Juarez and Owen Wanner both were involved in a South Adams rally in the bottom half of the inning and the two combined for ten outs on the mound in relief of Weaver, allowing just one run to keep the Starfires in position to win the game.
Craig Landis scored a run on another wild pitch to briefly give the Stars the lead in the bottom of the fourth, but Bellmont answered right back in the top of the next inning with a pair of singles by seniors Andrew Scheumann and Jack Scheumann, with Scheumann scoring on a single by third baseman Beau Baker.
Baker came on in relief of Aidan Zimmerman, who struck out seven for the Braves in four innings. Baker pitched scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth before taking the loss in the seventh. He allowed just one hit.
The Braves had just five hits in total, but worked six walks from South Adams pitching.
Bauman and Lenington led the Starfires with two hits apiece.
Caleb Hirschfeld got two outs in between appearances on the mound for Wanner, who was credited with the victory.
The Starfires were set to play a doubleheader at Union City Saturday, while Bellmont was prepared for a long day of preparation for the home opener, which is slated for Wednesday in Decatur. The team will play Adams Central in Monroe first, however, with a WZBD broadcast set for Tuesday.