By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence saved its best for last.
With so much deserved attention on the upper half of BNL’s dangerous lineup, it was the bottom of the batting order that did most of the offensive damage as the Stars dried off their water-logged bats to win their home opener. After all, according to the Bible, the last shall be first.
The final three were anything but easy outs. Dalanie Davis and Bella Warren cracked three hits each, and Sophia Jewell clubbed a home run as BNL (6-2) conquered Brownstown 9-6 on Monday afternoon. That trio combined to drive in seven runs while making the Braves pay for their Ratliffphobia.
In case that anxiety disorder is new to the medical profession, it’s the excessive fear of pitching to BNL superstar Ava Ratliff, who’s already crushed six home runs this season while adding to her phenomenal state record. Brownstown coach Darren Bryant will not win any popularity contests in this town after intentionally walking Ratliff during all four of her brief plate appearances. That will happen often. BNL has to make that frustrating decision hurt.
The Stars definitely did that. Davis had three hits and drove in three runs, Jewell ripped a two-run home run to start the scoring, and Warren had three hits while driving in two. So much for the bottom of the order being paved as Easy Street. It got bumpy down there.
“They didn’t even let Ava hit,” BNL coach Brad Gilbert said. “When that happens, we have to make sure we score that run, so teams will think twice about it. We are going to see it. It was nice to see them come through. It was nice to see them get key hits.“
Jewell’s surprise bomb, as she choked up on the bat and cut down on her swing for an 0-2 pitch, got the Stars started in the second. Davis cracked a run-scoring single in the third, followed by Warren’s two-run single for a 5-1 lead. After the Braves battled back within 6-5 in the top of the sixth, BNL added key insurance runs in the bottom that frame. Karsyn Coleman got an RBI the hard way, taking a pitch off her batting helmet with the bases loaded, and Davis stroked a two-run single.
“I was a little worried about being rusty,” said Gilbert, whose club had been idle since wrapping up their trip to Tennessee on March 29, right before the local monsoon season started. “I knew Brownstown would hit the ball, they’re a good team. But with our offense, I’m pretty confident we will come through.”
Brownstown, making its belated season debut, scored via a lead-off home run by Olivia Justice in the fourth, Shyla Steele’s RBI single in the sixth, and a BNL error that allowed two more runs in the sixth.
Jewell’s blast was a perfect example of why big swings are not necessary for big flys.
”That’s what we preach,” Gilbert said. “You have to shorten up a little bit and just hit the ball square, let the pitcher supply the power. Even with two strikes, the ball will go.”
Davis and Warren were spurred by the ultimate respect shown to Ratliff and the lack thereof for those who follow her in the lineup.
“When I see them walking Ava, that just means I have to hit a line drive,” Davis said. “I have to get that run to score. We were able to hit the line drives we needed.”
“I was a little down on myself,” Warren said. “But I started hitting it better.”
Macee Nicholson earned the win in the circle, working 5 1/3 innings and allowing three earned runs. BNL shortstop Kendall Graves was the defensive star with multiple tough plays in the infield.
”She made plays I’m not sure anyone else makes, that I’ve seen,” Gilbert said.
BNL will host Edgewood on Thursday.
