{"id":694,"date":"2023-04-12T15:22:20","date_gmt":"2023-04-12T15:22:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=694"},"modified":"2023-04-12T15:22:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-12T15:22:22","slug":"laurent-shines-in-opening-win-over-jets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/12\/laurent-shines-in-opening-win-over-jets\/","title":{"rendered":"Laurent shines in opening win over Jets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>RANDY HISNER<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WZBD.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DECATUR &#8211; It was d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu all over again in the Bellmont-Adams Central baseball matchup at the new-look Bellmont field Tuesday night, the Braves claiming a 5-1 victory in their season opener. Just as he did last year in a 5-2 win over the Jets, hard-throwing Bellmont right-hander Eli Laurent dominated the Adams Central hitters, striking out eight and yielding only two hits and one walk.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-1024x678.jpg?resize=640%2C424\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C678&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1017&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1356&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Eli Laurent&#8217;s first start was a good one as he beat the Jets and picked up the win.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, maybe not exactly like last year. Bellmont coach Tom Montgomery noticed something different. \u201cThe difference from last year to this year,\u201d Montgomery said, \u201cis that last year he had 13 strikeouts and just really dominated from the mound. He\u2019s learning, developing as a pitcher to where he makes them hit his pitch, and our defense was behind him tonight, making some great plays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The strategy helped Laurent keep his pitch count low\u2014just 86 pitches\u2014allowing him to go all seven innings, a rarity in a pitcher\u2019s first outing of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe got even stronger as the game went on,\u201d noted Montgomery. \u201cHe got better control of his breaking pitches. He did a really great job, kept their hitters off balance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-1024x678.jpg?resize=640%2C424\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C678&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1017&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1356&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0412-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bellmont coach Tom Montgomery was a happy man after Tuesday&#8217;s big win over Adams Central. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-25.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Bellmont head coach Tom Montgomery discusses Eli Laurent&#8217;s outing and his team&#8217;s victory over AC. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI felt good,\u201d Laurent said. \u201cI felt mentally dialed in, except for the fourth inning when I was a little off, but Coach came out and kind of reset me, told me to stay within myself and finish the game out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Laurent was referring to the inning in which the Jets scored their only run. Ryan Tester and Ryan Black led off with singles, and after Trevor Currie struck out, Ethan Poling hit a grounder to Brave third baseman Aidan Zimmerman, who started to throw to first, then changed his mind and threw to second. The hesitation led to a wild throw that allowed Tester to score an unearned run. Laurent rebounded to retire Adams Central catcher Keegan Bluhm on a called third strike, and then Zimmerman deftly fielded Logan Uhlman\u2019s slow roller and threw on the run to first baseman Dylan Velez, who scooped the ball out of the dirt to end the inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-26.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Eli Laurent talks with WZBD&#8217;s Randy Hisner about his outing Tuesday. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the third when Andrew James singled, advanced to third on Jack Scheumann\u2019s walk and Gavin Krull\u2019s ground out, and then scored when Jet pitcher Cade Van De Weg\u2019s strike three in the dirt to Laurent went to the backstop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-1024x678.jpg?resize=640%2C424\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C678&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1017&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1356&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0440-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Andrew James helped the Braves with his glove and his bat Tuesday night. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After the Jets (3-2) tied it with that run in the top of the fourth, the Braves put the game away with a three-run rally in the bottom of the inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it almost didn\u2019t happen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zimmerman and Austin Christener led off with walks. Then Van De Weg\u2019s throw to third on Velez\u2019s bunt was too late, loading the bases with no outs. Will Baker hit a liner to right, but the Jets\u2019 Caden Funk made a diving catch, with Zimmerman tagging up and scoring the go-ahead run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hold on, said the Jets.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They claimed that Zimmerman had left early. The plate umpire agreed, turning the fly out into a double play, and the Jets were on the verge of squashing the Braves\u2019 rally. But Bellmont shortstop Andrew James drove in Christner with a single to left, and Scheumann, who had three hits, drilled a 3-2 pitch up the middle to score Velez and James, who had advanced to third and second, respectively, on a wild pitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-1024x678.jpg?resize=640%2C424\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C678&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1017&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1356&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0486-scaled.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Jack Scheumann had three hits to lead the Bellmont offense. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-27.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>WZBD&#8217;s interview with Jack Scheumann after his three-hit night. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>That made it 4-1, and the way Laurent was pitching, that was a safe lead. He faced just ten hitters in the final three innings, allowing only a walk to Ryan Black. The Braves tallied one more run in the fifth when courtesy runner Jordan Haines scored on a passed ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Van De Weg took the loss, striking out six and giving up four runs in four innings. Keagen Combs struck out three in two innings of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/98.158.76.108\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/New-Recording-24.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Adams Central head coach Josh Foster discusses his team&#8217;s loss to Bellmont. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>The game was the first at Bellmont since the recent construction of new dugouts, which, along with last year\u2019s late-season addition of a modern press box and concession stand, have transformed the Bellmont facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bellmont travels to Bishop Luers Wednesday. The Jets are off until they go to New Haven for a doubleheader Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RANDY HISNER WZBD.com DECATUR &#8211; It was d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu all over again in the Bellmont-Adams Central baseball matchup<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":695,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[29,13,15,26],"class_list":["post-694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-adamscentral","tag-bellmont","tag-featured","tag-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/DSC_0446-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1696&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/694\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/695"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}