Belgreen falls to Athens Bible, Spring Garden

J.R. Tidwell/FCT Laken Bragwell (24) of Belgreen fires off a pitch against Athens Bible at the North Regional in Huntsville on Friday.

HUNTSVILLE — The Belgreen Lady Bulldogs’ 2012 softball season was brought to an end Saturday morning at the hands of Spring Garden, who defeated Belgreen 12-1 in the Lady Bulldogs’ third game of the North Regional Softball Tournament.

“We’ve played scared,” said Belgreen head coach Richie Hester after the Lady Bulldogs’ second game of the tournament. “Our young players are nervous and are making mistakes. I kept thinking it might wear off, but we kept making them in the second game.”

Belgreen’s first opponent of the tournament was Athens Bible, an early favorite to win the 1A side of regionals. They proved a tough foe, downing the Lady Bulldogs 10-0.

“Some of the girls were here a few years ago,” Hester said. “This is good experience for the younger girls.”

This dropped Belgreen into the loser’s bracket and playing Cedar Bluff in round two.

The Lady Bulldogs fought a back-and-forth battle with Cedar Bluff before going into extra innings tied at 6-6.

The game stretched on for over two hours, but Belgreen made one final comeback to win the game 10-9.

“I’m proud of the girls,” Hester said. “Any time you have 22 wins it’s been a successful season. We’ve been first or second in three tournaments, and now we’re at regionals. If we lose we’ll be back in the future.”

The Lady Bulldogs’ season lasted one more game, the third-round loss to Spring Garden. Belgreen’s lone run of the game came on an RBI double by pitcher Laken Bragwell.

The Lady Bulldogs ended the season with a 22-9 record, quite an accomplishment for any team.