BELMONT — Trailing 3–1 in the bottom of the seventh and down to the final out in Tuesday’s WIAA Divison 4 sectional semifinal, Belmont junior Jordyn Kamps lived out the fantasy of every Little Leaguer in America.
Kamps came through with a clutch, game-winning, three-run home run that lifted the Braves to a dramatic 4–3 walk-off victory over visiting Monticello and set of a raucous Belmont celebration at home plate.
“I’m at a loss for words,” said Belmont head coach Jeff Hodgson immediately following Kamps’ game-winning blast to right field. “I feel sorry for whoever we play against next, because these girls are a team of destiny.”
Belmont improved to 21–4 and advanced to Thursday’s Potosi sectional final against New Lisbon that was rained out and eventually played Sunday at Boscobel.
Hodgson’s Braves were forced to play catch up after uncharacteristically committing three errors and allowing three runs over the span of the third and fourth innings.
The Ponies (12–3) took a 1–0 lead on a Belmont error in the top of the fourth. Monticello then scored two additional runs on a pair of Belmont errors in the fifth.
The Braves got a run back in the bottom of the fourth when Daisy Cunzenheim stole home on a throw to second base, but left runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings.
Kalyn Kamps reached on a fielder’s choice and the Belmont seventh-inning rally was kept alive when Emma Eastlick reached first on a Monticello error, the Poines’ only miscue of the game.
Jordyn Kamps took a mighty cut and missed the first pitch she saw, but connected on the next to create a lifetime memory.
“I never knew what a home run felt like, but as soon as the ball hit the bat, I knew it was gone,” said Kamps, who a standout and state qualifier for the Belmont track team in her first year of playing varsity softball. “I just wanted to come up and get a nice hit and try to bring a run in, but that is a hit I am never going to forget.”
WIAA Division 4 Sectional Semifinal
Belmont 4, Monticello 3
(from Tuesday, May 28 @ Belmont)
Monticello 000 120 0 — 3 5 1
Belmont 000 100 3 — 4 9 4
Leading hitters — B: Emma Eastlick 2x4, Daisy Cunzenheim 2x2. 2B — M: Devoe. HR — B: Jordyn Kamps. W — Kalyn Kamps (21–4, 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 7 SO, 0 BB). L — Leuzinger (2 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB).
