Opening their season last Tuesday in the Stoutland Tournament, Chris Feeler’s Belle Tiger baseball team began defense of their tournament title against the host Tigers.

Nursing a 2-0 lead through three innings, Belle broke the game open with a seven-run third inning before going on to a 10-0 victory in five innings in the Stoutland Tournament opener for both teams.

In Belle’s two-run second inning, Ethan Loughridge walked and scored on a RBI single off the bat of Jeb Seaver for a 1-0 lead.

Seaver scored later in the inning on a RBI single off the bat of leadoff hitter Mason Butler.

With only one hit during their seven-run fourth inning, Belle Tigers drawing walks and scoring included Lane Feeler, Jat Ridenhour, Dylan Light, Levi Fortner, Colten Robinson and Butler. Loughridge also singled and scored his second run of the game.

Ridenhour doubled and scored on a Light RBI double giving Belle their final margin of victory over the host Tigers.

Right after their shutout of Stoutland, Belle took on Laquey’s Hornets in their second tournament game last Tuesday.

Behind a six-run first inning and a 10-run fourth, Belle recorded their second shutout with an 18-0 win over Laquey in four innings.

Light and Loughridge paced the Belle offense with five runs batted in and three hits scored each.

Fortner and Light both also scored four runs apiece against the Hornets.

Continuing tournament action in Stoutland Friday afternoon, Belle took on Rolla’s JV Bulldogs.

Scoring at least one run in all five innings, Feeler’s Tigers bumped their record to 3-0 following their 14-1 victory in five innings over the JV Bulldogs.

Feeler got Belle on the board in the top of the first inning reaching on a fielder’s choice before scoring on a Light RBI ground out.

Turning four singles into four runs, Belle had all the offense they needed after the top-half of the second inning.

Recording five RBIs in their previous game against Laquey, Light duplicated the feat against Rolla’s JV on two hits thanks to a two-RBI single in the top of the fourth and a bases-clearing double in the top of the fifth inning.

With a spot in the Stoutland Tournament championship game on the line, the Tigers took on Bolivar’s Liberators.

Allowing five runs in the top of the fifth inning, Belle found themselves trailing 6-5 through five innings against Bolivar.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Seaver, Nathan Valley and Butler all singled and scored helping the Tigers to an 8-6 come-from behind victory Saturday morning putting them in the title game opposite Dixon’s Bulldogs.

Leading 1-0 in the third inning, the game was suspended due to inclement weather and will be continued today (Wednesday) in Stoutland. More on that contest and a Highway 28 showdown with Owensville will be in next week’s Maries County Advocate.