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AKRON — The Bloom-Carroll softball team left no doubt in Akron late Saturday night on June 6.
Behind another spectacular pitching performance from junior Emma Brandt and a parade of hits, the Bulldogs cruised to a 10-1 win over Louisville to win the Division III state championship in front of a huge crowd at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.
The Bulldogs, who were making their seventh appearance in the state title game, won their fourth state championship in school history. Their last title came in 2013. They also won titles in 2006 and 2007, and were runners-up in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
“This means everything to me,” Brandt said. “I have worked so hard for this day, and now that this has happened, I am just so excited for my team."
More: Emma Brandt fires a one-hitter to lead B-C into D-III state title game
It was only fitting that Brandt would record the last out when a grounder was hit back at her. She threw over to first base to record the final out to cap things off, and the celebration was on.
Brandt, who took a perfect game into the seventh inning in a 2-1 win over Greenville in the state semifinal on June 5 before giving up a home run in the top of the seventh to finish off a one-hitter, gave up a solo home run on the second pitch of the game. From there, she was dominant, pitching a shutout the rest of the way.
“When she hit the home run, I was like, so what? I’m not going to let one hit affect the whole game,” Brandt said. “I just focused on one batter at a time and tried to get one out at a time. I didn’t look ahead and just stayed in the moment. I am an emotional person, but when I am in the circle, I can control myself and focus.”
Brandt scattered five hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter. In the two state tournament wins, she pitched 14 innings, gave up two runs, six hits, had zero walks and struck out 18.
“For the last two weeks, (Brandt) has been dominant,” Bloom-Carroll coach Chris Lucas said. “She started throwing a drop curve, and it was devastating, and the next thing you know, the drop curve turned into a curve rise. The past two weeks have been outstanding for her, and more than anything, the way she carries herself in the circle sets her apart.”
With Brandt dominating on the mound and holding the Leopards at bay, her teammates took care of the rest with plenty of run support.
The Bulldogs finished with 13 hits, led by senior Madelyn Gates, who finished with six total hits during the two state tournament games. She had three hits and an RBI, and freshman Lilly Schimmel went 3-for-4. Hayden Hubner had two hits and three RBIs, and Maddi Walters also had two hits and scored three runs. Gabby Johnson had a double and an RBI.
After Louisville took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, it took the Bulldogs a few innings to get untracked, but once they started scoring, they never stopped.
Bloom-Carroll scored four runs in the third inning. It all started when a pitch hit Walters. Gates followed with a single, Jaiden Sharrow reached on a bunt and Brandt delivered a two-run single. After a strikeout, Johnson and Hubner singled home two more runs. Bloom-Carroll had a run in each of the next two innings to take a 6-1 lead.
The Bulldogs blew the game open in the sixth inning when they scored four more runs. Gates had an RBI, Hubner knocked in two on a single, and the final run of the inning came on a wild pitch.
“They have been looking forward to this since they lost to Dover last year, and they were determined,” Lucas said. “In this game, we knew it would take more than a home run to beat us, and as usual, we like to hit the ball. We just waited for our opportunity, and it finally happened. This is a mature group, and we always felt like we could get here. It’s just a special group.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Bulldogs leave no doubt in winning the Division III state championship
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Behind another spectacular pitching performance from junior Emma Brandt and a parade of hits, the Bulldogs cruised to a 10-1 win over Louisville to win the Division III state championship in front of a huge crowd at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.
The Bulldogs, who were making their seventh appearance in the state title game, won their fourth state championship in school history. Their last title came in 2013. They also won titles in 2006 and 2007, and were runners-up in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
“This means everything to me,” Brandt said. “I have worked so hard for this day, and now that this has happened, I am just so excited for my team."
More: Emma Brandt fires a one-hitter to lead B-C into D-III state title game
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It was only fitting that Brandt would record the last out when a grounder was hit back at her. She threw over to first base to record the final out to cap things off, and the celebration was on.
Brandt, who took a perfect game into the seventh inning in a 2-1 win over Greenville in the state semifinal on June 5 before giving up a home run in the top of the seventh to finish off a one-hitter, gave up a solo home run on the second pitch of the game. From there, she was dominant, pitching a shutout the rest of the way.
“When she hit the home run, I was like, so what? I’m not going to let one hit affect the whole game,” Brandt said. “I just focused on one batter at a time and tried to get one out at a time. I didn’t look ahead and just stayed in the moment. I am an emotional person, but when I am in the circle, I can control myself and focus.”
Brandt scattered five hits, struck out eight and did not walk a batter. In the two state tournament wins, she pitched 14 innings, gave up two runs, six hits, had zero walks and struck out 18.
“For the last two weeks, (Brandt) has been dominant,” Bloom-Carroll coach Chris Lucas said. “She started throwing a drop curve, and it was devastating, and the next thing you know, the drop curve turned into a curve rise. The past two weeks have been outstanding for her, and more than anything, the way she carries herself in the circle sets her apart.”
You must be registered for see images attach
With Brandt dominating on the mound and holding the Leopards at bay, her teammates took care of the rest with plenty of run support.
The Bulldogs finished with 13 hits, led by senior Madelyn Gates, who finished with six total hits during the two state tournament games. She had three hits and an RBI, and freshman Lilly Schimmel went 3-for-4. Hayden Hubner had two hits and three RBIs, and Maddi Walters also had two hits and scored three runs. Gabby Johnson had a double and an RBI.
After Louisville took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, it took the Bulldogs a few innings to get untracked, but once they started scoring, they never stopped.
Bloom-Carroll scored four runs in the third inning. It all started when a pitch hit Walters. Gates followed with a single, Jaiden Sharrow reached on a bunt and Brandt delivered a two-run single. After a strikeout, Johnson and Hubner singled home two more runs. Bloom-Carroll had a run in each of the next two innings to take a 6-1 lead.
The Bulldogs blew the game open in the sixth inning when they scored four more runs. Gates had an RBI, Hubner knocked in two on a single, and the final run of the inning came on a wild pitch.
“They have been looking forward to this since they lost to Dover last year, and they were determined,” Lucas said. “In this game, we knew it would take more than a home run to beat us, and as usual, we like to hit the ball. We just waited for our opportunity, and it finally happened. This is a mature group, and we always felt like we could get here. It’s just a special group.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at [email protected] for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Bulldogs leave no doubt in winning the Division III state championship
Continue reading...
