Emma Brandt fires a one-hitter to lead B-C into D-III state title game
Article excerpt
Emma Brandt pitched a one-hitter as Bloom-Carroll advanced to the Division III state championship game. The standout performance in the state semifinal showcased the pitcher's dominance, allowing minimal offensive opportunities for the opposing team. Brandt's effort secured the Bulldogs' spot in the title matchup, where they'll face another regional powerhouse. Her gem stands as a signature moment in what has been a strong tournament run for the program.
AKRON, When asked a question by a reporter after Bloom-Carroll’s Division III state semifinal game against Greenville, Bloom-Carroll pitcher Emma Brandt started to explain what was working for her before head coach Chris Lucas interrupted and told her not give up too much information. Everyone laughed.
Brandt was spectacular in the circle against the Green Wave. She was throwing perfect through the first six innings before Greenville led off the seventh inning with a home run. Brandt was able to retire the next three batters to finish off a one-hitter, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 win at Akron’s Firestone Stadium Friday, June 5.
Bloom-Carroll (25-4) will play for a state championship against Louisville (18-13) at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. The Bulldogs will be looking to win their fourth state title in school history and the first since 2013. Bloom-Carroll has won three state championships and finished runner-up three times.
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Bloom-Carroll came out swinging, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning thanks to a pair of triples from lead off batter Madelyn Gates, and was recorded, Brandt ripped a triple to score the first run and Addy Brown had a sacrifice fly to plate the second run.
As it turned out, that’s all fiery Brandt, who shows a lot of emotion after every out she records in the circle, would need.
“My curve ball was working really well and I through a few screw balls,” said Brandt, which was when her coach told her not to share too much. “It’s just a great feeling because I have worked so hard for this, and I am so happy and excited for our team. When I struck out two in the first inning, I came off thinking this is our game.”
Brandt finished with 10 strikeouts in facing only one batter over the limit. She threw 85 pitches.
Lucas said the fact the Bulldogs played a strong regular season schedule wasn’t by accident.
“We were prepared for this moment because we scheduled heavy, so when we got here the moment wasn’t too big,” Lucas said. “We are riding Emma, and she has been locked in during the tournament.”
Beating Greenville was not an easy task. The Green Wave lost their first game of the season and entered Friday’s game with a 32-game winning streak.
Brandt pointed back to a game against Mid-State League-Buckeye Division rival Liberty Union when she gave up three home runs. The second time they played, Brandt was on point, finishing with 13 strikeouts in a 1-0 loss.
“After that game, I really locked in and I had the mindset that one game doesn’t define a player, and I wasn’t going to let that happen again,” Brandt said.
Bloom-Carroll finished with eight hits, led by Gates who went 3-for-3 and freshman Madison Kellett had two hits.
“This feels amazing because two years ago, we got close, last year we got closer and now here we are,” Gates said. “This feels validating because we knew were a good team and just to see the result is so validating.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Bloom-Carroll advances to state softball final behind Brandt's masterpiece