Down to their last out, the Bellmont Braves never gave up Monday and stole a victory on the road at Blackhawk Christian.
Despite an outstanding pitching performance from Aidan Zimmerman, coach Tom Montgomery’s team was trailing 2-0 with two outs in the top of the seventh. Andrew James had led off the inning with a single, but the next two batters made outs, leaving the game in the hands of Layne LeMaster.
LeMaster singled to put runners on the corners, but Blackhawk had a chance to end the game when Jack Scheumann hit a ball to third. The play was ultimately not made and the Braves had a chance to tie the game or take the lead with Beau Baker at the plate.
Baker doubled in both Lemaster and Scheumann and the Braves led for the first time, 3-2.
That opened the gates for four more runs in the inning thanks to doubles by Keagan Martin and Delsyn Lee. The Braves batted around and James got another hit ahead of an RBI single by Will Baker.
Blackhawk threatened in the bottom of the seventh against Zimmerman with a pair of two-out singles, but LeMaster gobbled up the last ground ball of the game and got the out and the victory for Bellmont.
Zimmerman finished with 12 strikeouts in the complete game victory, allowing just four hits. His defense committed just one error behind him.
The Bellmont Braves will be back in action Tuesday at Bluffton for a game set to be broadcast on 92.7 FM, WZBD.