BROWNSTOWN
It was a frustrating night for the Brownstown Central softball team as they dropped a Mid-Southern Conference game 3-1 to the Silver Creek Tuesday evening.
The Braves (10-11, 4-3 MSC) scored their lone run in the fourth inning.
The Braves’ pitcher Jami Bryant lead off with a double on a blooper to centerfield.
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Addie Krieger stepped to the plate and traded spots with Bryant on a double to left field that was close to leaving the park.
That tied the score at one.
That’s all the damage the Braves could do, as catcher Leah Stidam flew out to short and Krieger had a baserunning miscue that lead to a double play to end the inning.
The Dragons scored on an RBI single in the second inning.
Silver Creek did their damage in the top of the fifth inning when a blooper to left field scored the two go ahead runs.
In the bottom of the sixth, Zoe Fountain led off with a single up the middle. Chloe Carlin grounded into a fielders’ choice and advanced to second when the Dragons attempted to turn a double play and overthrew first base.
That would be as close as the Braves would get to scoring in the inning as Jami Bryant flew out and Krieger grounded out to short.
Despite coming up short, Braves’ coach Monte Ault said he was proud of how the team played, particularly the team’s ability on defense.
The Braves did not allow an error in the game and haven’t for the last few games.
Bryant pitched a complete game, giving up 10 hits and striking out one. She did not issue any walks.
“We made some really nice plays and haven’t given up an error in the last two or three games,” Ault said.
The Braves did show some great plays as Zoey Fountain snagged a hard hit ball in the third inning to retire a Silver Creek batter. Chloe Carlin also made several good plays at center field for the Braves.
Ault said the team’s trouble is not being able to string enough hits at the right moments in games.
“We had four hits tonight and they had ten and we’re not getting bunches,” he said. “We got a hit in the first and didn’t get anymore until the fourth and then didn’t get any until the sixth.”
Ault said the key to the team’s success is also getting hits with runners in scoring position.
“When we get runners in scoring position, we have to come up with the hits,” he said. “We need an inning where we can patch four or five hits together.”
Ault said the team also had difficult competition Tuesday evening as the Dragons have only dropped three games all season. He said the fact they only lost by two speaks to how well his team is capable of playing.