The Bellmont Braves picked up their first NE8 win of the season Tuesday night in a ten-inning thriller thanks in large part to one of the best starting pitching efforts in the last decade for the team by senior Beau Baker.
Baker went 9.2 shutout innings and allowed just five hits while striking out ten batters.
Ironically, the pitch count kept him from earning the victory. It also brought the game to a standstill. Baker reached the pitch limit and there was a considerable pause in the game over a dispute on the pitch count rules, but eventually Matt Bleeke was brought in with a man on first. Although he walked the first batter he faced, he got a strikeout on a full count to keep the game scoreless.
That set the table for Bleeke to come to the plate and single to left. After the hot-hitting Jack Schultz moved him to second with a base hit of his own, Dan Selking ended the game with a hit to center.
Three of the Braves’ six hits came in the bottom of the tenth inning.
Beau Baker was the only player on either team to have multiple hits. He doubled with two outs in the ninth but was left stranded.
Jakobee Shuler started the game for New Haven. He went 5.1 innings and allowed just two hits before giving way to Ryne Haver, who took the loss.
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