The weather was warm.
Cole Watts was hot.
On a real scorcher – the heat index hovered between 98 and 103 degrees, for a game that began at one in the afternoon – the Braves scored an 8-0 home win over Belle Plaine.
The makeup game was played Thursday afternoon, June 17.
How hot was Watts?
He led off the Montezuma first inning with a solo home run, the only run he, the Braves’ pitcher, would need.
He wasn’t finished there, though, and neither was Montezuma.
Watts also walked and twice was hit by pitches. He stole a base and drove in a run, and lifted his season batting average to .600.
On the mound, Cole worked all seven innings of this shut-out, scattering four Belle Plaine hits, while walking one and striking out five.
The Braves had six hits, one apiece by six different players.
Cruz De Jong hit a double and drove in two runs.
Owen Cook stroked a double, was hit twice by pitches, and stole a base.
Eddie Burgess had a hit and a run batted in.
Cam Johnson had a hit, drew a walk, and was hit by a pitch.
Connor Van Zee drove in a run with a hit.
Colton Benson had a sacrifice, an RBI, and a stolen base.
The win, the second straight by Montezuma, lifted the Braves to 7-3 overall and to 6-3 in South Iowa Cedar League play. It put the Braves into a tie for third in the ongoing league race.
Belle Plaine fell to 6-8 overall and 5-5 against the league.
UP NEXT – The Braves are at Tri-County on Friday, June 18.