With a 2-1 victory over previously unbeaten Belmont last Thursday afternoon, the Potosi varsity softball team drew first blood in the race for this year’s Six Rivers Western Conference title.
     Potosi senior pitcher Kristi Bartels drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning and held the hard-hitting Braves to just five hits in the game as the Chieftains improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in the SRW.
     Meanwhile fourth ranked Belmont which began the year with 10 straight wins, fell to 10-1 and 3-1 in league play.
     The Braves scored first on Emma Lee’s two-out RBI triple to right centerfield in the top of the third inning.
     But Bartels (6-3) allowed just four Belmont base runners over the final four innings. She struck out eight and walked just one in the game.
     Potosi tied the game when pinch runner Hannah Hutchcroft scored on Jenna Kruser’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning.
     Junior catcher Abby Ames reached on a fielder’s choice with two outs in the fifth, then senior Audrie Runde reached on a walk.
     Potosi scored the winning run when Bartels singled to hole in short left centerfield. Belmont shortstop Molly Bockhop made a nice diving play on Bartels hit, but was unable to throw out the Potosi pitcher from her knees.
     * In non-conference action this past Monday evening, the host Chieftains suffered a 7-1 loss to Barneveld.
Potosi was held to just three hits, one of which was an RBI single by Ames in the bottom of the third inning.
Potosi struck out a total of 15 times and drew two walks in 26 at bats, while Potosi pitcher Kristi Bartels surrendered seven earned runs off nine hits, while striking out two batters and walking two.
     * Last Tuesday Kalyn Kamps tossed a five-hit shutout as Belmont blanked visiting Highland 4-0. Kamps struck out 10 Cardinals and didn’t allow a walk in the win.
     Emma Lee and Niki Jenkins each went 2-for-3 for the victorious Braves, who improved to 10-0 with the win.

Potosi 2, Belmont 1
(from Thursday, April 26 @ Potosi)
Belmont    001    000    0    -   1   5  0
Potosi    000    110     x    -   2   5  1
Leading hitters - B: Emma Lee 2x3; P: Kristi Bartels 2x3. 2B - B: Lee. 3B - B: Lee. W - Kristi Bartels (6-2, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 8 SO, 1 BB). L - Kalyn Kamps (10-1, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 9 SO, 3 BB.

Barneveld 7, Potosi 1
(from Monday, April 30 @ Potosi)
Barneveld    021    301    0    -   7   9  0
Potosi    001    000     0    -   1   3  0
Leading hitters - B: Sporle 2x3, Evans 2x3, Slaney 2x2. 2B - B: Sporle; P: Riley Bausch. W - Udelhofen (7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 15 SO, 2 BB). L - Kristi Bartels (6-3, 7 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 2 SO, 2 BB).

Belmont 4, Highland 0
(from Tuesday, April 24 @ Belmont)
Highland    000    000     0    -   0   5  1
Belmont    100    021    x    -   4   7  0
Leading hitters - B: Emma Lee 2x3, Niki Jenkins 2x3. 2B - B: Jenkins. W - Kalyn Kamps (10-0, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 9 SO, 0 BB). L - Wolfe (6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 12 SO, 1 BB).