Long ball leads Belton Lady Tigers past Cove Lady Dawgs 14-0

By TJ Maxwell
Cove Leader-Press

Five wind-aided home runs by the Belton bats were too much for the Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs to overcome in Friday’s 14-0 loss to the Lady Tigers.
It didn’t take long for the Lady Tigers to take control of the District 8-6A showdown on Friday as home runs by juniors Madison Ward and Isabell Gutierrez put the Lady Tigers up 6-0 in the top of the first inning. 
After junior Avery Drake drew a lead-off walk to start the contest, Ward blasted over the center field wall for a 2-0 lead.
Senior Bethany Edwards then walked, junior Caleigh Robinson singled and Madison Barlett connected with an RBI single for a 3-0 Belton lead and two baserunners aboard for the Gutierrez three-run shot off the score board for the 6-0 lead Lady Tigers’ lead.
A double by Copperas Cove’s Addie Cook gave Cove an opportunity to cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning but a line out and a strikeout ended Cove’s chances.
Belton increased their lead to seven when Avery Drake connected on a leadoff double before stealing third and advancing home on an errant pickoff attempt.
A single by Ward and another walk by Edwards put a runner on for Robinson who blasted a three-run shot over the score board for the 10-0 Belton lead. 
Two batters later, Gutierrez connected with her second home run of the game with a two-run blast to center field for a 12-0 Belton lead.
A single by Paige Nunes then put another runner on for senior Mackenzie Bartlett where she connected with the third home run of the inning and the fifth in two innings of action.
Cove’s Madelyn Scribner connected on a leadoff double to open the bottom half of the second inning but a pair of strikeouts and a groundout ended the Lady Dawgs’ chances.
A single by Kristen Wasiak put a runner on for the Lady Dawgs in the third inning but the Lady Dawgs’ again could not take advantage.
Scribner added another hit in the bottom of the fourth inning on a one-out single to left field but two more strikeouts ended the side.
The Lady Tigers also drew a walk in the top of the fourth inning and singled in the fifth inning but were unable to take advantage.
Ward was a perfect 3 for 3 with two runs, two RBIs and a home run and Guttierez was a perfect 2 for 2 with two runs, five RBIs and two home runs to lead the Belton bats. Drake (1 for 2, 2R, BB), Robinson (3 for 4, 2R, 3RBIs, HR), Nunes (1 for 23, R), Mack. Bartlett (1 for 2, R, 2RBIs, HR) and Mad. Bartlett (2 for 4, 2R, RBI) also collected hits for Belton.
Scribner finished 2 for 2 with a double, Cook was 1 for 2 with a double and Wasiak was 1 for 3.
Madison Cotton earned the win in the circle for Belton. She allowed no runs on four hits while striking out nine and walking none in five innings.
Cove’s Taylor Martin suffered the loss. She allowed 14 earned runs on 13 hits while striking out one and walking four.
The Lady Dawgs (3-4 in District 8-6A) travelled to Midway last night due to weather forcing the game to be moved up a day (results not available as of press time). They return home Thursday to host San Angelo Central.