Schwartz hits mammoth home run

Sofia Schwartz is mobbed at home plate by her teammates after hitting a mammoth home run in the fourth inning Friday. Schwartz, who finished the game 2 for 3, played brilliantly behind the plate and allowed starting pitcher Gracy Bixler to throw seven four-hit innings.

BERNE—Gracy Bixler held Bellmont to just four hits and Sofia Schwartz and Peyton Pries hit home runs to lead the South Adams Starfires to a big 6-5 rivalry win over the Braves.

“It was a good win for us,” said South Adams head coach Jessie O’Dell after the win. “We have had several games like that this year and ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.

Bellmont led after scoring three times in the top of the fourth, but Pries gave South Adams the lead with her blast, which scored Kristen Wynn, in the sixth inning.

After Emily Bleke scored on a South Adams error in the top of the first, South Adams answered back with two runs of their own, culminating with a bases-loaded single by Makayla Hamrick off Bellmont starter Taylor Bauer.

The Braves tied the game in the third with an RBI double by Rachel Bleke, but again South Adams responded with a run.

“Early in the game I worried we squandered our opportunities,” said O’Dell after leaving 11 runners on base in the contest.

Bellmont put together a rally in the next half-inning, beginning with walks by Emma Mills and Bauer. Sami Christen, who continues to be the team’s leading hitter through 11 games, singled to load the bases with two outs and Emily Bleke followed with a line drive base hit to score two. Christen came home three pitches later on a wild pitch to give the Braves a 5-3 lead.

The last three runs of the game were scored on the home runs by Schwartz and Pries. Bellmont failed to capitalize in the final inning after Christen was hit by a 3-0 pitch to lead off the inning,

Piper Baker returned to the circle from injury and recorded two strikeouts for the final two outs of the sixth. The appearance was her first in 24 days.

Coach Jessie O’Dell got two hits from Wynn, Schwartz, Carlie Sealscott and Lily Patterson.

“I didn’t even have to watch (Schwartz’s home run),” noted the coach. “She has been crushing the ball. I was happy for Peyton, she has been clutch for us.”

South Adams is back in action tonight at Jay County for an important ACAC contest.

Photo by Dane Fuelling Peyton Pries is greeted at home by her teammates after hitting the go-ahead home run Friday to beat Bellmont. Pries finished the game 1 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI.