All the runs in Wednesday’s 3-0 win for Heritage against the Bellmont Braves were scored in one half inning as Landon Lybarger and Beau Baker were locked in an otherwise intriguing pitching matchup on the Bellmont diamond.
Each team had four hits, but it was the top of the fifth inning for the visitors that made the difference in the game. Baker was on an absolute roll after getting the first batter out in the fifth, allowing just one hit all night to the Patriots, who had only caused trouble in the first inning because of a couple of errors by the Braves.
The Patriots got to Baker in the fifth, though, with a single to left by Max Mirelez that was followed by another base hit to Beau Stoppenhagen. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position and opened up first for a walk to load the bases with still just one out.
A hard hit ground ball that just got past the third baseman off the bat of Andrew Mirelez also got past the left fielder and the error allowed a runner to advance to third, setting up Caleb Abbott for a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to three runs.
The only baserunners the Braves could muster after that against Lybarger were a pair of singles by Andrew James and Will Baker in separate innings and it was Heritage who shook hands with a smile at the end of the night.
Both teams will play tough conference games Thursday night, with Bellmont going to Leo and Heritage hosting Adams Central.
Fans of Heritage can hear Thursday’s game against Adams Central on WZBD, 92.7 FM.