DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
KINGSLAND – The big question coming in to Wednesday’s sectional semifinal at Norwell was whether or not the Bellmont Braves would be able to hit Danica Fuller.
After two years in separate sectionals, the two teams came back together to meet in postseason play, much like they did three years ago when Fuller was just a freshman.
The Braves had already beaten Heritage in the regular season, but Fuller pitched less than an inning in that contest.
Bellmont answered the question with enthusiasm, pounding out 11 hits and scoring four runs in the sixth inning to turn a 2-2 tie into a Braves’ victory and a trip to the championship game of the 3A sectional.
The key for Bellmont was the ability to put the ball in play, something they’ve exceled at all season long. Fuller tallied just three strikeouts and walked one.
Bellmont, on the other hand, got eight strikeouts from starter Bella Ashley, who allowed just seven hits to earn the victory. Outside of a rocky first inning, Ashley was superb.
In that opening frame, Heritage turned singles by Fuller and Libby Cain into a pair of runs, seizing the opportunity when the Braves gave them an extra out to load the bases. Ashley walked in the opening run, sending Avi Washington to first base. The Braves then traded an out for a run at third base on a ground ball and Heritage took an early 2-0 lead.
The bottom half of the order produced the Braves’ first run in the second, with Taylor Sutter singling and her pinch runner, Chevelle Oetting, getting into scoring position on a single by Liz Bobay. With two outs, Oetting scored from second on a single by Aaliyah Faurote.
Finnley Godsey, who already had a hit in the game, doubled in her second at-bat and scored on a sacrifice fly by Oni Krueckeberg, tying the game.
Much like the Braves have done over the last month with Faurote in the No. 9 spot and Emily Bleke batting leadoff, the Patriots used hits by Hadlee Shipp and Danica Fuller to mount a rally in the fourth, but it came with two outs and both were stranded when Godsey made a good play on a ground ball at second to end the threat.
Faurote and Bleke then mimicked Shipp & Fuller by reaching with two outs, as well, but Fuller was able to do something most pitchers haven’t this year – strike out Godsey, who was named second-team all-conference this week and is now hitting a team-leading .477. It was just the third strikeout of the season for Godsey.
Ashley worked through the 2-3-4 hitters for Heritage with a flawless fifth inning and Fuller returned the favor to the Braves as the intensity rose with each out recorded.
Sutter and Bobay again reached together to lead off the fateful and deciding sixth inning, but perhaps the most vital moment came on a sacrifice by Carissa Mickley, advancing both runners for the senior tandem of Faurote and Bleke. Both 12th graders, just 48 hours away from walking across the stage to receive their diplomas, knocked in runs with hits. After Bleke stole third, Godsey got her revenge on Fuller, making it 6-2 with a single to center.
The Patriots did not go down without a fight and with the top of the order up in the seventh, it took Bella Ashley’s best for the Braves to record the win.
Fuller led off the inning, as expected, with a single and Ball State-bound Abriyah James made sure she did not end her career with an 0-for-4 night, singling in her final at-bat to finish her senior season with a .597 batting average.
The Braves tried to get an out on a ground ball up the middle, but Heritage made it 6-3 and the tying run came to the plate for the Patriots.
Bella Ashley then saw out the game with a strikeout looking and she recorded the final out and the victory with a fly ball to Taylor Bauer in center field.
Fuller ended her career with a 3-for-3 night at the plate, scoring twice. She walked one, struck out three and all six runs were earned.
Faurote finished the night 2-for-3 with three runs driven in, while Bleke will attempt to tie the all-time hit record at BHS when she comes to the plate to lead off the first inning Thursday.
The Braves will face Mississinewa in the championship game. The Indians beat Bellmont with a walk-off home run in the ninth inning on Good Friday earlier this season.
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