Following an 0-2 start to the 2025 campaign, the Belgreen High School varsity softball team has been on a tear in its last five games, winning each contest by an average of over 12 runs and has run-ruled its opponent in all but one of those victories.
Shutout losses to Waterloo and Tishomingo County on the opening day of the season, Feb. 21, didn’t dampen the spirits of the Lady Bulldogs, who came back the following day and knocked off Phillips, Waterloo, and Addison in a tripleheader by scores of 17-0, 6-2, and 14-0 respectively.
On Thursday of last week, Feb. 27, Belgreen picked up its fourth straight win beating Lexington 17-3 on the road, and then on March 1 earned a 15-0 win at home against Covenant Christian.
“The kids are buying into what we’re doing and working hard,” Belgreen head coach Sander Tverberg told the Franklin Free Press.
“I think (the two losses), a lot of it can be attributed to the fact that we were actually supposed to be playing JV—our first varsity game wasn’t scheduled until the next week, so I don’t know if our kids were mentally ready to play that first night. We sort of threw them into the fire that night…and I don’t know if they were mentally ready,” Tverberg said. “Saturday (the next day), when we came back, we had got a little taste of it, so we were ready to play.
“The team seems to be blending well together,” he added.
A major factor in Belgreen’s early success has been the performance of pitcher Zoey Blaxton in the circle. Blaxton, who has started all but two of the Lady Bulldogs’ games at pitcher and appeared in all but one, boasts a 5-1 record on the year, has racked up 28 strikeouts, and allowed just five earned runs in 22 innings pitched—good for a 2.05 ERA. She was named the FFP Athlete of the Week for her performances the week of Feb. 17-22.
“Our whole pitching staff with Zoey and Jemma (Moore) and Caleigh (Lawson) have done well, but Zoey has pitched really well,” Tverberg said, “and the defense has played well behind her.”
Of course, a team doesn’t bring across runs in the quantity that Belgreen has over the last handful of games without having some really hot bats; the Lady Bulldogs’ bats are scorching. Tverberg chalks that up to his players’ ability to make adjustments in the batter’s box.
“Our batting, you know, (the players) are buying into what we’re teaching, and they’re making adjustments at the plate,” he said. “They may not be successful the first time, but they’re making adjustments and doing what they need to do to get on base.
“I think that’s been the factor to our success is just being willing to make an adjustment; to fix a little flaw in their swing and things like that, it’s been a big key,” he added.
The tangible ability on the field has been apparent on the scoreboard, but the intangibles are shining through, as well, Tverberg said, especially with senior outfielder Morgan Lauderdale.
“One of the main things I’ve noticed this year is Morgan Lauderdale, one of my two lone seniors…and Morgan’s become a real leader,” the Lady Bulldog head coach said. “Her batting average may not show it, but she’s been an example to the other ones, helping them along the way, knowing what our expectations as a coaching staff are for all our players. With all the new players coming in, that’s been a real key.”
There are, of course, areas where Tverberg would like his team to improve—“I’ve always got something that we need to work on,” he said. “If you’re not getting better you’re going backwards.”
But one thing the head coach won’t want to change is this squad’s cohesiveness.
Overall, Tverberg said, the secret to Belgreen’s winning formula thus far has been the team’s collaborative effort, both players and coaches.
“Jemma’s hit the ball really well. Bryn Scott, our center fielder, and Mackinley Hogan coming in from basketball, they’re getting their legs under them,” Tverberg said. “Everyone’s contributing at the plate, so to me it’s a huge team effort. Everybody’s buying in and doing what they need to do to be successful in our program.
“I’m super excited, super proud about the coaching staff and how well we’ve meshed together and how all the kids are buying into what we’re teaching,” he added.
Belgreen’s next game is scheduled for Thursday, March 6 with the Lady Bulldogs set to host Colbert County.
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