BELLE PLAINE – You would agree, wouldn’t you, that these are wild and crazy days?
Jaw-dropping events even happen in Iowa hamlets like Belle Plaine and Montezuma.
They were during a softball game between the two towns’ high school teams.
Belle Plaine, a winless team, enjoyed a Mt. Etna-like eruption in the sixth inning, putting up 9 runs to take an 11-7 lead.
They did WHAT?
But there’s more. In their half of the seventh inning, the Bravettes started the line moving with base hits.
And bunts. With the bases loaded, senior catcher Ellen Cook laid one down. By the time Belle Plaine finished throwing the ball around the grounds, all four runners had crossed the plate.
It was ruled a double and a run batted in. But you know what it was in terms of impact. . . Right! A grand-slammer!
Montezuma scored six times in its half of the inning to take a 13-11 lead.
But it wasn’t over. . quite yet. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Montezuma freshman relief pitcher Sophia Semprini hit a batter, and now Montezuma’s lead was down to 13-12.
But Semprini got the save on her four-pitch effort, and the Bravettes kept Belle Plaine winless on the season.
The game was played Wednesday, June 4, in Belle Plaine.
Ellen Cook’s line was two-for-two at the plate, with a double and a run batted in.
Mya Smothers had two hits and drove in three runs. Chloe Snook had a hit and scored three times.
Vivian Cook had a double and an RBI.
Syd Burgess had a double.
Lily Ferry had an RBI single.
The Bravettes made 4 errors, but stole four bases.
Leah Urfer pitched 7 innings, less one out, gave up 11 hits and 4 earned runs. She walked two and struck out four.
Then there was Semprini, who was working the circle when the final out was recorded.
The Bravettes went to 3-2 on the season.
Belle Plaine is a hard-luck 0-7.
UP NEXT – The Montezuma boys and girls host BGM on Friday, June 6.