Which is harder to believe?
Emily Bleke, Bellmont’s biggest slugger, had 12 total bases in a five-inning game after starting 0 for 1?
or
Emily Bleke, Bellmont’s leadoff hitter, had 12 RBI?
Both are remarkable in their own right and both happened on Monday night at New Haven as the Bellmont Braves demolished the short fence of the Bulldogs in a 24-4 victory in the NE8.
Makenzie Mankey drew the start and worked two perfect innings, striking out three. With the Braves up 16-0, coach Mindy Buuck decided to cut the Bulldogs a break and save the arms of her team for another day. Buuck had already decided on resting MK Scheumann and Bella Ashley by handing Mankey just her second start of the year.
Taylor Bauer threw a couple of innings and allowed some runs, but it was all in good sportsmanship as Buuck had no intention of embarrassing the home team.
The score got to 16-0 in just 1.5 innings because of a hit parade by the visitors. Bleke actually started the night by reaching on an error to start the game 0 for 1. She later scored on a hit by MK Scheumann.
In her second trip to the plate in the first inning, she doubled with the bases loaded to account for a quarter of her RBI total. She scored two pitches later on a triple by Bella Ashley.
Coach Buuck showed more good sportsmanship by calling off the dogs and making an intentional out on the bases to end the 10-run inning.
The first five batters of the second inning reached ahead of Bleke and she once again came to the plate with the bases loaded. She mimicked her second at-bat with another bases-loaded double to make it 14-0 and Ashley doubled her home for a 16-0 scoreline.
The Braves made another out on the basepaths and went to the bench for some pinch-hit opportunities, with Carissa Mickley taking advantage and hitting a double to left.
Amazingly, Bleke came to the plate again with the bases loaded and hit one over the center field fence for a grand slam.
Finnley Godsey, who pinch hit earlier in the game, had a pickoff at first base as the catcher.
Bleke’s final plate appearance was a two-run home run to center to make it 23-4. She came to the plate five times Monday and scored five times.
The Braves host Bishop Luers on Tuesday before heading to DeKalb Wednesday.