Belgreen falls in Class 1A North Region
The Belgreen Bulldogs were eliminated from the Class 1A North Regional softball tournament in Florence this past week after losses to Skyline and Athens Bible. The Bulldogs beat Marion County in a high–scoring affair.
The Bulldogs managed three hits in their opening game 7-0 loss to Skyline. Noelle Willingham got two hits from the top of the line, and Bryn Scott got the other hit from the bottom of the lineup.
Skyline took a 1-0 lead in the first, and from there it was a pitching battle, with neither team generating much offense.
Lily Blackburn pitched four and a third innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs and no walks and struck out two. Brooke Tompkins came in to relieve Blackburn, going the final one and two-thirds innings.
The game was 1-0 through five and a half innings, but Skyline broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs to take the 7-0 lead and win, sending the Bulldogs to the elimination bracket.
Belgreen won a scoring battle in the first elimination game, 14-12 over the Marion County Red Raiders. Marion County out–hit Belgreen 15-12.
After a scoreless first inning, Marion County exploded for seven runs in the top of the second inning. Belgreen responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to 7-3.
Marion County added four more in the top of the third to take an 11-3 lead, and the Red Raiders appeared poised to run away with the game.
Belgreen added two runs in the bottom half of the inning to make the score 11-5, but Marion County responded with another run in the top of the sixth to make the score 12-5.
The Bulldogs had a run explosion of their own in the bottom of the fourth, scoring eight runs to take the lead. Trailing 12-11, Willingham stroked a two-RBI single into centerfield, scoring Brooke Tompkins and Madison Vandiver to take a 13-12 lead.
Belgreen added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 14-12.
Willingham had two hits and four RBIs and scored a run. Hannah Borden had two hits, an RBI and scored three runs. Scott had two hits and an RBI and scored twice. Makayla Willingham had a hit and two RBIs and scored a run.
Blackburn pitched four and one-third innings, and she allowed eight hits, walked two and struck out three. Borden came in in relief for two and two-thirds innings and gave up seven hits and no walks and struck out two.
Belgreen was eliminated by Athens Bible in a tight game, losing 4-3.
Belgreen took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Morgan Vandiver scored on a wild pitch.
Athens Bible tied the game in the top of the third inning, but Belgreen reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Blackburn doubled in Vandiver to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. Blackburn came around to score on a double by Makayla Willingham.
The Trojans added another run in the top of the fourth to cut Belgreen’s lead to 3-2.
Athens Bible tied and took the lead in the top of the sixth inning on two doubles then shut Belgreen down in the final two innings three-up, three-down each inning to win the game.
Belgreen ended the season with a 28-19 record.
