Big first inning sends Belgreen past Phillips

By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
BELGREEN - Jordan Clark's two-run triple highlighted a nine-run first inning for Belgreen on Saturday as the Lady Bulldogs pounded Phillips 12-1 at the Belgreen Invitational softball tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs lost 5-2 to defending Class 1A state champion Speake later on Saturday in the semifinals, finishing the season-opening tourney with a record of 2-2.
Against Phillips, Belgreen took advantage of eight walks in the first inning to blow the game open early.
Martha Billingham drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch.
After Mary Billingham walked and stole second, Kala Dill's infield single made it 1-0.
Kendra Oliver followed with an RBI single to center, and Clark's two-run triple over the leftfielder's head made it 4-0.
After Whitney Tittle lined to shortstop for the first out of the inning, three consecutive walks forced home Clark to make it 5-0.
Deborah Billingham scored on a wild pitch, and Martha Billingham's RBI groundout brought home Sarah Billingham for a 7-0 lead.
Mary Billingham then beat out an infield hit to drive home another run, and two batters later Mary Stutts drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the final run of the inning.
That was more than enough run support for Oliver (1-1), who struck out nine and allowed just two hits in four innings of work.
Oliver had struck out seven of the last eight batters before giving up back-to-back singles to start the fourth.
An RBI groundout gave Phillips its only run of the game.
Belgreen responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Mary Billingham drove in two runs with a single and later scored on a single by Oliver to make it 12-1.
Mary Billingham finished 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs, and Dill was 3-for-3 with a double.
Oliver was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, and Deborah Billingham stole a pair of bases and scored twice.
Speake 5 Belgreen 2
Kala Dill and Whitney Tittle each had a double for Belgreen in Saturday's semifinal loss.
Mary Billingham, Kendra Oliver and Sarah Billingham each added a single.
Sarah Billingham (1-1) took the loss, allowing six hits in five innings.
Belgreen 10 Vina 2
Sarah Billingham struck out nine batters in five innings and Whitney Tittle had two runs and two RBIs as the Lady Bulldogs opened with a win on Friday.
Billingham, Tittle, Kendra Oliver and Deborah Billingham each had a double for Belgreen. Martha Billingham had two RBIs, and Mary Billingham scored a pair of runs.
Colbert Heights 7 Belgreen 2
Kala Dill had two hits, including a triple, in Friday's loss to the eventual tournament champion.
Kendra Oliver took the loss, allowing seven hits and striking out seven in four innings.
Jordan Clark and Whitney Tittle each drove in a run.