SOFTBALL

Rattlers top Tigers on the diamond

Mark Pinson

Special to the Star-Banner

Belleview's Jaela Haynes celebrates while rounding third base after hitting a three-run blast home run to make it 8-0. The Belleview Rattlers defeated the Dunnellon Tigers, 8-3, Thursday night.

DUNNELLON — Belleview senior centerfielder Jaela Haynes smashed a three-run homer and scored three runs and Lauren Reimsnyder tossed a complete game to lead the Rattlers to an 8-3 win over Dunnellon on Thursday night.

The win improved Belleview to 3-2 on the season.

"I thought it was a great team effort," said Rattlers head coach Gary Greer. "We're a young team and struggled hitting early on, but our bats got going, we got great pitching from Lauren and played good defense."

The loss dropped the Tigers to 0-4 overall.

Dunnellon's Jessie Larner makes a double play in the top of the second inning.

"We were hitting the ball early on but right at their fielders," said first-year Dunnellon head coach Matt Kidney. "I'm proud of the girls because they didn't give up and we just got going a little too late."

Belleview got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning without the benefit of a base hit. Haynes worked a one-out walk off Dunnellon right-hander Courtney Desena, stole second base and alertly raced home when the catcher's throw sailed into centerfield and was bobbled for an error to give the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.

Reimsnyder, a hard-throwing right-hander, breezed through the Tigers' batting order the first two innings, allowing a bloop single down the right-field line to go with three strikeouts.

Dunnellon's K'mari Williams fields the ball.

Belleview added to its advantage on the top of the third inning as Haynes drew a one-out walk, Brooke Butcher reached on a fielder's choice and both runners scored on a dropped pop-up with two outs to give the Rattlers a 3-0 lead.

Reimsnyder got stronger as the game went on, and the Belleview senior cruised through five innings allowing no runs on one hit.

Belleview added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning as Emily Pearce and Jordan McLaughlin singled off of relief pitcher Leanne Sonneberger, moved up a base on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Emma Kaylor.

Dunnellon's Courtney Desena tags Belleview's Brooke Butcher out at second.

Kylah Gardner kept the hit parade rolling with a single to right field and Haynes, a Stetson University commit, belted a line drive over the left-field fence to give the Rattlers a commanding 8-0 lead.

Dunnellon battled back in the bottom of the frame as K'mari Williams singled, stole second and third base and scored on a wild pitch. Sonneberger singled, Desena singled and Megan Kerrick lined a two-run double to right-center field to pull the Tigers within 8-3.

That would be as close as Dunnellon would get as Reimsnyder settled down to strike out the next batter to end the rally.

Belleview's Laila Henry bunts in the top of the second but is called out.

Reimsnyder, who allowed five hits and struck out a career-high 11 batters, retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.

"Lauren has been waiting for her time and I'm super proud of her," coach Greer said. "She threw strikes and I think she is going to get better as the season goes on. Jaela is a great leader and that was her second three-run homer of the season."

Belleview is back on the diamond on Tuesday with a home game against Pierson Taylor.