Belgreen hopes state playoff run ‘builds confidence’ for future

OXFORD — The tears started when Belgreen gathered for the handshake line. They continued when the Bulldogs gathered their things and exited the dugout for the last time this season.

They had been hoping to play a little bit longer in the Class 2A state tournament.

“It’s tough,” senior Dacota Green said after Tuesday’s 12-5 elimination loss to Pisgah. “We had a great season, but you always want to keep going further. We’ll be sad with the loss for a while.”

Yes, the loss will sting. Losing always does, especially late in the year.

But Belgreen (36-18) headed back home with something — or multiple things — to build on. A fourth state berth in seven playoff years. The Bulldogs’ fourth-place finish is its best since 2019 when it took fourth in Class 1A.

“I think it builds a lot of confidence,” coach Sander Tverberg said. “It builds an expectation of what we want to keep going with. We got a good core group and some young players coming up. Hopefully, we can build on this and keep going year after year and a little bit further each time.

“That’s always the goal, to improve on what you do the year before.”

Belgreen accomplished that this season after missing out on the state tournament each of the last three springs. It will return most of its roster intact for 2026 as well with just Green and Morgan Lauderdale set to graduate.

This year’s playoff path was a tough one for the Bulldogs. To play for a state championship they would have needed to win four straight.

Briley Caperton scored three runs for Pisgah, one of four Eagles to touch home plate multiple times. Emma Sisk collected three RBIs, while Madeline Flammia and Lori Jones combined on a five-hitter. Pisgah (30-15-1) ended up as the state runner-up to Zion Chapel.

Jemma Moore drove in three runs for Belgreen. Bryn Scott reached base three times, the only Bulldog to reach first base more than once.

“We were happy to be here, we just would have liked to play a little better than we did,” Tverberg said. “But we’re such a young group.”

So, the tears? Those will likely be temporary.

Belgreen believes better things await.

“Oh, they’ll be great,” Green said. “We’re losing just two seniors and everybody else will be a year older, a year wiser. They’re going to be a great team.”