When one thinks of hitting for the cycle, it’s often of a batter gaining confidence throughout the night and hitting a dramatic home run to end the game in the final at-bat.
Bellmont center fielder Isabelle Mickley had little use for dramatics Wednesday night. She tripled in the first and homered in the second to help the Braves jump out to a 6-0 early lead, getting the two hardest parts of the cycle out of the way early.
A single in the third put runners at the corners and her double in the fourth scored Oni Krueckeberg, giving the Braves a 9-1 lead.
The Braves then poured it on in the sixth inning, with DeKalb walking in a run rather than giving Mickley a ball she could hit. Taylor Sutter homered later in the inning to make it 16-1 and Kaylee Kolter had a pinch hit RBI single for the final tally.
The hit parade almost covered up a fine pitching performance by the Braves, who got five one-run innings from Adi Radecki. She struck out eight batters and was then relieved by Isabelle Buuck, who pitched a scoreless sixth to end the game early.
Isabelle’s sister, Carissa, also had a good night at the plate, driving in two runs with three hits.
First baseman Liz Bobay also had three hits in the win.
The Braves are back in action Monday at home against East Noble.
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