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Belmont secures share of Six Rivers West crown
Bel BB Bahr bunt color
Belmont senior Jon Bahr lays down a bunt during the Braves 121 victory at Black Hawk on Friday.
Thomas Gunnell
Updated: May 18, 2016, 6:46 PM
Published: May 18, 2016, 6:48 PM

SOUTH WAYNE — Belmont secured at least a share of the Six Rivers West baseball championship title last week after knocking off Black Hawk 12–1 in the rain at Black Hawk High School on Friday.

The fifth-ranked Braves (12–6 overall, 11–2) had a chance to lock up the West title outright at Highland on Monday, but the host Cardinals handed the Braves their first loss against a West foe with a 7–2 decision at Tyler Field.

At Black Hawk on Friday, the Braves faced a tough battle from the winless Warriors (0–16, 0–12) before finally pulling away by scoring nine times over the final two innings.

A five-run sixth extended Belmont’s 3–1 lead to 8–1, and then they added four insurance runs in the seventh to seal the victory.

Josh Logsdon went 2-for-4 with a double and five runs driven in to lead the Braves. Quinn Cushman drilled a pair of doubles with three RBI and three runs scored, while pitcher Lane Kamps helped himself by goign 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs. Jon Bahr added two hits and two runs for the Braves.

Kamps (6–1) earned the win, yielding a run on one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts.

Brody Milz singled for the Warriors lone hit.

The second game of Friday’s doubleheader was suspended due to rain and unplayable field conditions in the third inning with the Braves leading 7–0. It will probably not be made up, so it will not count in either teams’ record.

The Braves picked up a key Six Rivers West win at home on Thursday, May 12, when they defeated the visiting Cassville Comets by a score of 7–2.

Belmont scored four times in the bottom of the third inning to snap a 2–2 tie, and they shutout the Comets over the final four innings to secure the victory. Connor Wiegel drilled a two-run double and scored on Jacob Amenda’s RBI-single in the third to rally the Braves.

Quinn Cushman (5–2) got the win allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks with seven Ks. Kamps fanned four over two scoreless innings to notch the save.

The Braves’ four-game Six Rivers winning streak came to a halt on Monday afternoon with a 7–2 loss at Highland. The Cardinals used a three-run rally in the home-half of the fourth to grab a 5–0 lead, and the coasted in for the win.

Cushman went 2-for-3 with a RBI to lead the Braves.

Belmont’s suspended game against Potosi last Monday will be resumed on Saturday, May 21, starting at 10 a.m. The Braves also has a Six Rivers doubleheader at Albany on Friday, May 20, starting at 4:30 p.m.; and they have a non-conference game at Mineral Point on Monday, May 23, also at 4:30 p.m.

Belmont 7, Cassville 2
(from Thursday, May 12 @ Belmont)
Cassville    011    000    0     —  2   6  0
Belmont    204    100    x    ­—  7   8  2 
Leading hitters — B: Jon Bahr 2x4, Raine Voigts 2x3. 2B — B: Connor Wiegel.
W — Quinn Cushman (5–1, 7IP, 6H, 2R, ER, 7K, 4BB). L — Christian Reynolds.

Belmont 12, Black Hawk 1
(from Friday, May 13 @ South Wayne)
Belmont    001    205    4    ­— 12 11  1 
Black Hawk    000    000    1     —  1   1  3
Leading hitters — Bel: Jon Bahr 2x5, Quinn Cushman 2x3, Lane Kamps 3x4, Josh Logsdon 2x4. 2B — Bel: Cushman 2, Lane Kamps, Logsdon.
W — Lane Kamps (6–1, 7IP, 1H, 1R, 8K, 2BB). L — Jayden Stietz.

Highland 7, Belmont 2
(from Monday, May 16 @ Highland)
Belmont    000    020    0    ­—  2   7  2 
Highland    101    302    x     —  7   8  1
Leading hitters — B: Quinn Cushman 2x3.
W — Nate Michek (7IP, 7H, 2R). L — Quinn Cushman (5–2).
Belmont's Kaleen McGettigan notches career win No. 200
Braves blowout Potosi/Cassville in coach's milestone victory
Kaleen McGettigan 200
Belmont girls head coach Kaleen McGettigan earned her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 win over Potosi/Cassville.
Casey Lindecrantz
Published: Dec 13, 2024, 7:23 PM

POTOSI — Belmont girls basketball coach Kaleen McGettigan collected her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 victory over Potosi/Cassville.

The Braves shot out to and maintained an early lead in Six Rivers West win over the host Chieftains (3–2, 0–2 SRW).

Potosi/Cassville claimed the opening point on a free throw, but a basket under the hoop by Morgan Freeman earned the only lead change of the night. The result was a Braves lead where the traveling team earned nearly 30 points before Potosi/Cassville tasted double figures.

“Any time we play a conference team, we know it is going to be a battle,” McGettigan said. “The Chieftains lost one of their starters the night before, but credit tot he team and their staff, they came out ready to play. Coach Nebel has done a nice job in her first month as a head coach.”

The Braves clung to a 37–16 lead at the break, nurturing it as they pushed to double Potosi/Cassville’s output over the final 18 minutes.

“I was pleased with the girls’ offensive attacks,” McGettigan said. “We are a tough team to guard because we are so interchangeable, and we need to take more advantage of that.”

The Belmont front was led by a three-headed monster of Lexi Riechers (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals), Freeman (14 pts, 6 reb), and Kaci Riechers (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl). 

Carsyn Ramaker also took on an supporting role — her six rebounds and five assists were each tied for the team high.

“Lexi Riechers was a spark for us, and she got a couple things going on both ends of the floor,” McGettigan said. “Carsyn continues to see the floor well, and Hailey Bahr played the best game of her career.”

With just three opponents left ahead of the new year, the Braves’ next opportunity on the court comes at Benton on Dec. 12.

Junior Lillie Cooley scored a team-high five points in the loss for Potosi/Cassville (3–2, 0–2) which suffered its first loss.

Despite the win, McGettigan believes her team needs improvements in a few areas.

“We need to do a better job of consistently finishing around the rim,” she said. “We also need to be more comfortable  in our half-court sets.”

The Zephyrs (0–6, 0–2) most recently lost to Stockton (Ill.) on Dec. 9, 68–18, and haven’t scored more than 20 points in each of their last three games.

“We need to continue working on limiting other teams’ offensive boards, and getting to our outlet spots,” McGettigan said. “December is a slow month for us, so we need to stay focused in the gym and need to get better.”

Belmont 56, Potosi/Cassville 25
(from Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ Potosi)
Belmont 37 19 — 56
Potosi/Cassville 16 9 — 25
Belmont (2–1, 1–0) — Hailey Bahr 2, Courtney Fritz 5, Kaci Riechers 12, Morgan Freeman 14, Jaelyn Leitzinger 2, Lexi Riechers 18, Brittany Taylor 3. Totals — 25-71 2-7 56.  
Potosi/Cassville (3–1, 0–1) — Matty Udelhofen 4, Madi Weber 2, Lillie Cooley 5, Brielle Fishnick 4, Ruby Roe 3, Miranda Kieler 4, Delany McKillip 3. Totals — 8-43 8-11 25. 
3-pointers — B: 4-19 (Fritz 1, K. Riechers 2, L. Riechers 1); PC: 1-11 (Roe 1). Team fouls — B: 14; PC: 14. Foul out — none.