Lady Bulldogs fight hard, fall to top-ranked Speake in extra innings of area title game

By Staff
Scot Beard
SPEAKE – The Belgreen varsity girls softball team could not put any runs on the board during the first eight innings of Tuesday's Class 1A, Area 15 Tournament title game against Speake, but a strong defensive effort kept the Lady Bobcats off the scoreboard as well.
Belgreen kept the No.-1 team in Class 1A from scoring until the ninth inning when the leadoff hitter reached first on an infield single, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored the winning run on another wild pitch.
Loren McVicker pitched all nine innings and took the loss for Belgreen.
"Loren had mono midway through the season and she is almost better now than last year," Belgreen coach Frank Billingham said. "She couldn't have pitched a better game."
Speake's pitcher held Belgreen in check and carried a perfect game into the seventh inning. She retired the first two batters before Deborah Billingham singled for the Lady Bulldogs' first hit of the day.
Martha Billingham hit the ball to right-center, but the Speake's center fielder made a spectacular diving catch to rob her of a hit and end the inning.
Bridget Thompson added another single for Belgreen in the top of the ninth inning and Katelin Barber reached on a fielder's choice, but Speake was able to retire the side before Belgreen could score.
With the loss, Belgreen earned the runner up trophy and will play the winner of the Area 13 tournament at the region tournament Friday in Huntsville. The game will be at 10 a.m.
Belgreen 2,
Tharptown 0
Belgreen earned a rematch with Speake by defeating Tharptown 2-0 in the losers' bracket finals of the Class 1A, Area 15.
The Lady Bulldogs score both runs in the first inning as Deborah and Martha Billingham singled and scored and a sacrifice by Amber Smith.
Tharptown had singles from Heather Hatton and Jess Myrick.
Tharptown 10
Mount hope 0
The Lady Wildcats avoided elimination and advanced to the losers' bracket final with a 10-0 victory against Mount Hope.
Hollie Hines hit a pair of doubles and a pair of singles while Lauren Scott singled twice and Hatton doubled and singled.
Breaden Sellers and Lori Metcalf each singled for Tharptown.