The Bellmont Braves knew from the day the IHSAA held the annual sectional draw that they were going to have to be at their best to win a sectional title in 2025.
They got off to a great start Monday and advanced to the semifinals with a 9-5 victory on Norwell’s home field.
Finnley Godsey’s home run cleared the left field fence and gave the Braves a 6-2 lead and Norwell got closer the rest of the afternoon.
Bella Ashley escaped further harm when she took a 4-0 lead and gave up two in the bottom of the first, then settled down and held the Knights scoreless until the seventh inning, striking out three to earn the victory.
Bellmont got their four runs in the first with leadoff hits from Emily Bleke and Godsey and a pair of walks to Taylor Bauer and Oni Krueckeberg. Taylor Sutter knocked in a run with a groundout and Liz Bobay delivered one of the key hits of the game – a two-out, two-run single.
The Braves scored twice more on Godsey’s home run in the second and then broke open the game in the third with three more runs, knocking Kayla Watkins out of the game in the next inning after 3.1 innings of work. Lillie Felton came on in relief and did not allow a run.
The first three batters that came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh for Norwell scored, but the Knights made a disastrous baserunning mistake and were tagged out at first base for the second out. Bella Ashley got the last out with a pop up and the Braves celebrated their victory and a chance to play Heritage for a berth in the sectional championship game. That contest with the Patriots can be heard on our YouTube channel Wednesday evening.
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