Mars Hill slips by No. 8 Belgreen

By Staff
Kim West
FLORENCE – The Class 2A Mars Hill softball team used timely hitting to defeat Belgreen 5-2 Monday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 8 in Class 1A, jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning as Amber Smith walked to lead off and Deborah Billingham singled her home and scored on a Lauren Oliver double.
But Mars Hill (10-13) cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the first as Emily Burns doubled to the gap in left field and scored on a single by Valerie Nash.
Belgreen (14-8) put two runners in scoring position in the second inning as Bridget Thompson drew a two-out walk and Jessica Welton singled. The Lady Panthers, who committed three errors during the inning, allowed the runners to advance to second and third but Mars Hill pitcher Ashley Atencio struck out the next batter to end the jam.
Mars Hill tied the game at 2-2 in the third inning without a base hit as Haley Behel took a 2-2 pitch to the left knee, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Atenico and scored on a fly ball hit by Burns that was dropped in right field.
The Lady Panthers took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on a passed ball and used a four-single fifth inning to increase the margin to 5-2 as Alex Lauderdale and Burns scored. Belgreen shortstop Amber Smith turned a double play to end the bases-loaded rally after snaring a liner hit by Amber Ashley and throwing out Nash at third base.
Belgreen threatened in the top of the seventh as the Lady Bulldogs led off the inning with back-to-back singles but Atencio produced a fly out to center field, a called strikeout and ground out to third to end the game with runners at first and second.
"We've grown up and matured this season, and prior to today we only had 87 strikeouts in 640 at-bats," said Belgreen coach Frank Billingham, who has added much-needed depth to his young roster by adding junior varsity players Jaydn Caskey, Bridget Thompson, Sara McMahan, Erica Smith, Kayla Byrd, Kristi Odell and Mandy Taylor.
"We're putting the ball in play, and that's always a good thing. And our pitchers are averaging less than two walks per game, which means most of the time they have been in control."
Belgreen junior Martha Billingham (7-4) took the loss for Belgreen, allowing six hits with one walk and three strikeouts, while Atencio earned the victory for Mars Hill by scattering five hits and striking out four with one walk.
Lauren Oliver led Belgreen at the plate with an RBI and two hits, while Nash paced Mars Hill with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored.
Belgreen will be in action again Monday in the Class 1A, Area 16 tournament against Vina, Waterloo, Shoals Christian and Covenant Christian at Webster Park in Muscle Shoals. The Lady Bulldogs went undefeated in regular-season area play this season and are favored to finish among the top two teams, which would earn Belgreen a sub-regional playoff berth.
"We're fortunate to have both Martha and Loren (McVicker) – I get asked all the time who our No. 1 pitcher is, but I always say I have two pitchers and we've been rotating them all year long," said Billingham. "We are expecting to advance in the area tournament."