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).