BBC BATTLE … Montpelier’s Bella Ramos waits on a pitch during Montpelier’s 11-0 win at Pettisville to clinch share of the BBC title.
(PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
PETTISVILLE BLACKBIRD … Grace Hastings flips to first base after scooping up a ground ball.
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
PETTISVILLE (May 8, 2025) – The Montpelier Locomotives secured the mercy rule victory against the Pettisville Blackbirds behind a dominant performance on the mound from Madelyn Hopper as they wrapped up a BBC title.
Hopper was dominant in the circle for the Locomotives, tossing a five-inning no-hitter with 11 strikeouts and only three walks. She kept the Blackbirds guessing all night, mixing speeds and locations to perfection.
Meanwhile, the Locomotive offense roared to life, erupting for a big first inning and piling on 11 runs over five frames.
Six of their runs came in the first inning, establishing their dominance in the box early and often. The scoring run started with back-to-back RBI singles from Lyla Mahan and Hopper, giving the Locomotives an early 2-0 lead.
Kelsie Bumb followed with a home run bomb to left, bringing the score to 4-0 after just four batters into the game.
The next two runs came from an error and a groundout, giving the Locomotives a 6-0 lead by the innings’ end.
Hopper secured two K’s through the first, establishing her presence on the mound but the second inning didn’t produce much offense for the Locomotives.
Hopper secured another two strikeouts in the second, constantly keeping the Blackbirds guessing all game.
Montpelier had a three up and three down third inning, leaving the score at 6-0 through the middle of three.
Hopper followed by retiring the next three batters on strikeouts, showing she was too much for the Blackbirds to handle.
The fourth inning wasn’t much better for the Locomotives, as Mahan was the only batter to reach base, when she singled to left.
The bottom of the fourth saw Hopper strikeout three more, putting on a display that everyone can admire, as the no-hitter continued through four.
The Locomotives took the top of the fifth as an opportunity to secure the mercy rule victory, as they secured five runs in the final inning.
The scoring run started with Bumb’s second home run of the day, as she drilled one to center field.
An RBI single from Zoe Uribes followed, with the next runner crossing base due to an error, making it 9-0 for the Locomotives.
With another RBI single and an error bringing home Maggie Jacob, the Locomotives had secured 11 runs through five innings, and Hopper wrapped up the game by securing three straight outs in the bottom of the fifth.
MHS 600 05 – 11 11 0
PHS 000 00 – 0 0 4
Records: MHS 13-5, 6-0 BBC; PHS 11-6, 5-2 BBC
WINNING PITCHER: Hopper (5 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 11 strikeouts, 3 walks)
LOSING PITCHER: Holyman (5 innings, 11 hits, 11 runs, 1 strikeout, 3 walks)
LEADING HITTERS: (Montpelier) – 2 home runs, double, 3 RBIs; Mahan – 3 singles, 2 RBIs; Hopper – 2 singles, RBI