Bloomfield SB off to explosive start following latest rout

With just two seniors, and 11 players total, the expectations for success for the Bloomfield High School softball team his spring was measured entering this spring. However, the Wildcats have proven to have offensive explosiveness – at times – and veteran coach Charlotte Phillips has her team rolling a bit.

“We’re building a young team,” Phillips said recently, “and we’re working on it.”

The Wildcats’ most recent victory was a 14-3 thumping of Richland (Essex) on Thursday, in which Phillips’ girls notched 11 hits.

“We have really been working on hitting the ball at different speeds,” Phillips said following a recent outing at Bernie. “We’re trying to make sure that we time that pitcher, watch the different pitching changes, and we’ve been doing a lot of hitting in practice.”

Bloomfield has scored nine runs (against Scott County Central), 11 runs (against Leopold), and 20 runs (against Delta), before Thursday’s outing against the Rebels (0-1).

The Wildcats are currently averaging just under 10 runs per game, which would be a program high over the previous 15 seasons if it continues.

In that win over Richland (Essex), Bloomfield was led by freshman Evelyn Pellet, who tallied three hits to go with her two runs, two RBI, and a walk.

Bloomfield (3-3) evened its record, which is halfway to topping the six wins that it achieved in each of the previous two seasons, yet the Wildcats still have at least 10 regular season games remaining, plus their postseason, as well as the Stoddard County Athletic Association Tournament and the Swing Pink Tournament.

“I think what is keeping us going is that we do have a good attitude,” Phillips said. “We’re willing to work together. They support each other.”

Wildcat sophomore Kilee Schott added two hits in the win over the Rebels, as well as scoring twice and driving in a run while sophomore Maybree Miller (two runs, three walks), sophomore Lilith Webb (one hit, two runs, two walks), sophomore Kendall Phillips (two hits, one run, five RBI, one walk), senior Mollianne Dodd (one hit, one run), sophomore Leilani Hall (two hits, two runs, one RBI), sophomore Hannah Watson (two runs, three RBI), and freshman Ariel Lewis (two RBI) also contributed.

Hall and Dodd each had doubles while Pellett (three stolen bases), Watson (two), Schott (two), Miller (two), and Hall each ran the bases well.

Phillips worked four innings on the mound and allowed four hits and a pair of earned runs while walking one and striking out five.

Hall closed the game with one inning pitched, as she gave up one hit, one earned run, walked three, and struck out three.

Rebel sophomore Addyson Williamson led her team with a pair of hits to go with a run scored and a walk while senior Lila Corlew (one run, one walk), freshman Payton Bell (one hit, one RBI), sophomore Nevaeh Roach (one hit, one run), freshman Ava Porter (one walk), freshman Baylie Pinkley (one hit, one RBI), and junior McKenna McBroom (one walk) also were productive.

Pinkley stole a base, as well.

On the mound, Pinkley threw five innings, allowed 11 hits, and struck out two Wildcat batters.

The Rebels will play their second of seven regular season games this spring on Wednesday against Scott County Central (4-5) at 4:30 p.m.

Bloomfield will visit Campbell (0-4) today at 4:30 p.m.