Belgreen girls win county tournament
Pitching and opportune hitting helped lift the Belgreen Lady Bulldogs to the softball Franklin County Tournament championship Saturday night.
Belgreen got an easy 12-0 win over Vina, a 2-1 walk-off win over Tharptown and a decisive 5-2 win over Red Bay in the finals to carry home the championship trophy.
Belgreen entered the finals in the winner’s bracket of the tournament. After a 3-2 Friday night loss to Tharptown, Red Bay had to battle back to the finals through the loser’s bracket all day Saturday, beating Phil Campbell 4-2, Vina 12-1, Tharptown 5-0 and Belgreen 2-1.
“Our girls showed the heart of a winner,” said Belgreen Coach Susie Tverberg. “A winner knows that some days, if you want to win, you have to fight – not with someone else but with yourself. Fight to win. I am so proud of these Lady Bulldogs.”
In the championship game, the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-out rally. Lila Blackburn scored on a single by Georgia Inman, and Sarah Eaton scored on an outfield error.
Belgreen responded in the top of the second inning to tie the game 2-2 on scores by Lily Blackburn and Hannah Borden.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the top of the third inning on a two-run single by Morgan Vandiver scoring Madison Vandiver and Borden. The Bulldogs got some insurance in the fourth inning, as Scott advanced all the way from first base to home plate on a throwing error.
Emma Dempsey got the win for Belgreen, allowing two hits and striking out four.
In the game before, the Red Bay Tigers were able to keep their hopes alive by beating Belgreen 2-1.
The Tigers got both their runs in the bottom of the first inning on a home run by Lila Blackburn. The Tigers hung on with a great pitching performance by Chloe Knoblock, who pitched five innings, gave up six hits and one run and struck out two.
In highlights from earlier games, Tharptown beat Red Bay 3-2 when Savannah Romans roped a single into right field scoring Harleigh Borden.
Red Bay beat Phil Campbell 4-2; Emma McCollister had a solo home run in the game, and Lila Blackburn struck out six.
Belgreen beat Tharptown 2-1 on a walk-off hit by Kelsey Wilson scoring Emma Dempsey. Dempsey allowed one run and three hits and struck out seven from the circle.
Lila Blackburn had a solo home run and pitched a one-hitter in a 5-0 win over Tharptown.
