Braves maintain shot at NE8 title with back-to-back Ws
A pair of close NE8 victories have put the Bellmont Braves in position to snatch a share of the conference title in the season’s final week. Consecutive victories on back-to-back nights had coach Tom Montgomery’s team in one good mood on the bus ride back from Leo Friday evening.
“We knew coming into Thursday that if we could win these two games, we still had a chance. This season has been so up and down with the rain, but we still have a chance,” said Montgomery.
The Braves defeated DeKalb Thursday 8-5, coming back from a 4-0 deficit after just half an inning. It was a huge night at the plate for Andrew James who moved all the way up to the leadoff spot and finished 3 for 3 with four runs driven in and two more runs scored.
Kobe Baker overcame that four-run first inning and threw five solid innings, handing an 8-5 lead over to Eli Laurent, who slashed through the Baron lineup and got six outs without allowing a hit and striking out three.
Laurent was also key to the Braves’ rally at the plate. Hitting from the cleanup spot and beginning the game at first base, the junior walked twice and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
“Once Kobe settled in after that first inning, he gave us a really nice performance,” said Montgomery.
“He shut them down and allowed us to slowly chip away at their lead.”
Montgomery noted that the DeKalb starter, Elijah Ehmke, was no slouch. “They threw a good pitcher at us and we stayed on him with timely hits.”
The script was flipped in Friday’s game at Leo, but in the end it was the same result: a victory for the Braves. This time, it was Bellmont who had the early lead, scoring all seven of their runs in the first
this project,” said Limmer.
“From the moment we proposed the idea they have been onboard 100 percent. They created the plans, the layout, the design for the monument, and are covering the cost of preparing the future site and all surrounding landscaping. Now, we just need to fundraise the remaining portion of the project to make this monument happen.”
The TinCaps, Minor League Baseball’s High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, will wear replica Daisies uniforms during their game
on Saturday, May 21. The jerseys are being auctioned online with 100 percent of all winning bids going directly toward the monument project.
“The TinCaps are covering the cost of producing the jerseys so all proceeds from the auction will go directly to making this monument a reality,” Limmer said. “Every penny that these jerseys raise is one step closer to making this monument happen. The Fort Wayne Daisies players, and their families, deserve to have their names permanently on display for future generations. We don’t want their legacy to be forgotten.”