By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The late ESPN legend Stuart Scott authored several catchphrases during his SportsCenter career, most notably “as cool as the other side of the pillow.” Bedford North Lawrence will flip the cushion and sleep much better, with the hot side of a losing streak now history.
The Stars made their belated home debut quite memorable, recording their first win of the season. Part joy, part relief, they will dream easier following an 11-1, five-inning triumph over Bloomfield on Tuesday.
All the parts clicked together for the mercy-rule victory. BNL (1-7) pounded out 15 hits, with senior catcher Dalanie Davis driving in five runs. Pitchers Macee Nicholson and Karsyn Coleman combined for eight strikeouts, and the defense turned a huge double play to escape a bases-loaded nightmare in the opening inning.
“There’s a lot of people who will sleep a little better,” said BNL coach Brad Gilbert, and he will be chief among the relaxed snorers. It’s been decades since BNL had to battle through a seven-game skid.
“All together, it felt really good,” Davis said. “It feels like a big weight off our shoulders. It feels really nice.”
BNL took control with a five-run second, but the tone was set before that eruption. Bloomfield (1-1) loaded the bases with no outs in the first, foreshadowing another long night. But Nicholson induced cleanup hitter Bella McIntosh into a sharp pitcher-to-catcher-to-first double play, then got Zylah Hendricks on a ground out.
Then came the offense. Davis ignited it with a RBI single, Sophia Jewell singled in a run, and Jaden Schofield dropped down a bunt that chased home Bella Warren with a daring slide to highlight that frame. BNL added four more runs in the third as Davis doubled in two, Warren bunted home another run, and Schofield lined a run-scoring single to center.
BNL capped its scoring with two runs in the fourth with another Davis single.
Davis, Schofield, Coleman and Adalynn Bailey all had three hits. BNL scored more runs than its last four games combined. Schofield added four stolen bases.
“We got a little flustered at the beginning of the season, but we’re starting to settle in,” Davis said. “We’re not quite where we need to be, but we’re getting there. I took a step back, dissected my hitting, really took the time.”
Nicholson earned the win in the circle with three innings of work, allowing one run, while Coleman fanned four in two innings of relief.
”It was a nice win,” Gilbert said. “The kids did a lot of things right. We ran the bases, had some great slides, played good defense. Most importantly, our pitchers threw really well. They threw strikes.
“We just needed to relax. It was nice to see us put up some crooked numbers, nice to see the offense going with people taking some good swings.”
BNL will face Boonville and Avon on Friday night at Castle.
