BELLVILLE — The Bellville High School softball team blasted Royal High School at Brah- manettes Field March 3 by a final score of 15-0 and the game was called in the bottom of the third inning due to mercy rule. Bellville’s pitching was stellar and they were also able to work the pitcher while hitting the ball hard and finding gaps. "We were ex cited to start district,” said Bellville head softball coach Courtney Phillips.
"I think the kids were ready to go. The girls are excited. They're having a great season, they’re having fun, and I think that’s where it matters.” Brahmanettes pitcher Kacie Dudensing tossed a shutout and also knocked a triple at the plate. "I think we were all starting off pretty slow,” Dudens- ing said. "We're just like 'oh it's just Royal' and then we kind of all decided to settle in. We had to realize that we were only up by one in the second inning and we had to start getting on the board. I knew I had to sit back and I had to start a little bit later with my swing. I knew that I just had to do my job pitching and my team mates would make the plays behind me.”
Bellville scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning after sophomore Katie Falk walked and senior Kennedy Sewell hit a grounder to drive in Falk on a fielder's choice. The Brahmanettes then scored five more runs in their next at bat on a handful of wild pitches, a field - er's choice, and two extra base hits from Falk and senior Emma Eckelburg to take a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Royal was able to get a few base hits in the top of the third inning before Bellville poured on the runs again in their final at bat. This was caused by a triple each from Dudensing and senior Avery Burnett, a double from Eckelburg, a three-run shot to left from Falk, and more wild pitching from Royal to win the game in the bottom of the third inning for the Brahmanettes by mercy rule at 15-0.
