Lynn knocks Lady Bulldogs out of tourney one win shy of state

By Staff
Scot Beard
HUNTSVILLE – The Belgreen varsity softball team showed it was one of the state's better programs Saturday as it eliminated two programs – Athens Bible School and Waterloo – that won five of the last seven state titles from the North Region Tournament.
It wasn't enough however as the Lady Bulldogs lost to Lynn 7-0 in the losers' bracket final to end their season.
Lynn, which sent Belgreen to the losers' bracket Friday, scored three runs in the opening inning and never looked back. The Lady Bears added four runs in the third to put the game away.
Deborah Billingham hit a pair of singles and drew a walk to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Amber Smith added a double while Martha Billingham, Loren McVicker, Erica Smith and Jessica Welton all singled.
Belgreen 5,
Athens Bible School 0
Belgreen scored a pair of runs in the fourth inning to break open a scoreless tie against Athens Bible School thanks to two errors by ABS.
McVicker drew a walk to begin the inning before Katy Britton singled and an error on the play allowed McVicker's pinch runner, Sara McMahan to score and Britton to advance to third.
Welton then reached base on an error, allowing Britton to score.
Deborah Billingham, McMahan and Katelin Barber each scored in the fifth for Belgreen.
ABS had many runners on base, but could not score any of them.
Britton had two singles while Martha Billingham, McVicker, Barber and Smith had one single each.
Belgreen 4,
Waterloo 3
Waterloo hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, but it was not enough as Belgreen held on to win the elimination game 4-3.
Belgreen scored one run in the fourth inning, but Waterloo answered in the fifth to tie the game.
The Lady Bulldogs regained the lead in the sixth by sending eight batters to the plate, scoring three runs in the process.
Deborah Billingham and Britton hit two singles each for Belgreen.
Martha Billingham, McVicker and Welton hit one single each.