BHS, RHS, THS softball seasons end on second day of North Regional

The varsity softball seasons of teams from Belgreen, Russellville and Tharptown high schools came to an end on the second day of the AHSAA North Regional tournament in Florence Thursday.

Belgreen eliminated Tharptown in the teams’ first game that morning before the Lady Bulldogs were eliminated themselves by No. 9-ranked Sumiton Christian in the afternoon. Russellville, after taking down Scottsboro in its morning game, was dropped by No. 2 Boaz in its second contest of the day.

Russellville was the first of the three Franklin County teams to play, but it was the matchup between Belgreen and Tharptown that saw the first local team knocked out of the tournament.

In a seesaw contest, the Lady Bulldogs took an early 8-3 lead, but the Lady Wildcats came back and went up 9-8 before BHS was able to score a tying run in the seventh inning and send the game to extra innings. Using that late momentum swing, Belgreen would go on to score five more runs in the top of the eighth to ultimately win by a score of 14-9.

Belgreen, the “visitor” in this inter-county matchup, opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first thanks to RBI singles by Kendra Williams and Caleigh Lawson. Tharptown responded in the bottom half and pushed one run across via a BHS error.

An RBI groundout by Alyssa Fischer in the second and a run-scoring single by Allie Gann in the third plated two more runs for the Lady Wildcats, in between which Belgreen scored five runs to go ahead. RBI singles by Zoey Blaxton and Marlie Terry accounted for three of those five runs and a THS error the other two.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tharptown began a 6-0 run to eventually take its first lead in the sixth. Back-to-back RBI knocks by Cadence Kennedy and Gabi Johnson scored three runs for THS in the fourth, the Lady Wildcats tacked on one run in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Sophie Waldrep, and then the “home” side went up 9-8 via a two-run double by Johnson, who finished the contest with a game-high four RBIs.

The Lady Bulldogs were now down but not out of it yet; a game-tying solo home run by Jemma Moore to lead off the top of the seventh extended Belgreen’s season for at least three more outs. The 9-9 tie would be broken and the game decided in the eighth inning when, propelled by a lead-off triple by Shaylyn Bryant, Belgreen’s Moore drove in the go-ahead run with a two-RBI single to right field, making it 11-9. BHS would go on to three more runs thanks to an RBI double by Blaxton and RBI singles by Terry and Mackinley Hogan.

Blaxton, who pitched six and two-thirds of the eight innings (and briefly spelled in the circle by Moore), would be credited with the win. She finished the game with six runs (four earned) off 10 hits allowed and three strikeouts. Tharptown’s Fischer took the loss after allowed eight runs (six earned) through four and a third innings of work. Kennedy pitched the other three and two-thirds innings, allowing six earned runs off six hits.

In addition to THS second baseman Johnson’s four RBIs, Kennedy and Paisleigh Carr each scored two runs each for their team in the defeat. Belgreen was led at the plate by Moore and Blaxton, who both had three RBIs apiece, and Lawson, who had two RBIs.

Tharptown finished its campaign with a final 20-19 record.

Belgreen advanced to face top 10-ranked Sumiton Christian later in the day, eventually falling in a walk-off 7-6 loss.

The Lady Bulldogs drew first blood in the matchup with the Lady Eagles, plating three runs in the top of the second inning. Hogan’s RBI single to center field drove in Blaxton from third base before another run-scoring single by Bryn Scott made it a 3-0 game. BHS then added one more run in the third via a Blaxton double and two runs in the fourth on a single by Williams and sacrifice fly by Moore, making it a 6-2 game.

Sumiton Christian’s comeback began in the home half of the fourth and came down to the Lady Eagles final three outs. After making it a 6-4 contest in the fourth, Sumiton walked it off with a three-run seventh. With runners on second and third and one out, Sumiton’s Olivia Harris hit into an RBI groundout to pull the Lady Eagles within one run. With two outs, Sumiton then drew a walk and secured victory on a two-run, walk-off single by Kylee Aderholt.

Scott led Belgreen offensively in the defeat, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Moore and Blaxton combined for BHS in the circle, allowing five earned runs off 10 hits. Blaxton was hit with the loss.

Belgreen’s 2026 campaign ended with a final 20-25-2 record.

Like the Lady Bulldogs, Russellville’s day started with an exciting win; however, it was terminated later in the day after a loss to one of Class 5A’s top programs.

Opening its day at 9 a.m., the Lady Golden Tigers earned a 5-4 victory over the Scottsboro Lady Wildcats. A Taitum Bishop sacrifice fly in the first inning and a game-tying RBI single by Chloe James in the bottom of the second made it a 2-2 game. RHS then took its first lead with a two-run third inning, Bri McCulloch’s RBI double and Kaylee Sugg’s RBI fielder’s choice giving the Lady Golden Tigers a 4-2 advantage. Russellville added what would prove to be a crucial fifth run in the next inning thanks to a solo homer by Alexia Groce.

Scottsboro would attempt a late comeback, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth to make it interesting, but Bishop, who pitched all seven innings for the Lady Golden Tigers, was able to shut the Lady Wildcats down and secure the final three outs without damage in the seventh. Bishop finished the game with eight strikeouts.

Offensively, left fielder and lead-off hitter Ticelee Gholston had a good performance at the dish going 3-for-3 with two all-important runs scored.

The morning triumph set Russellville up against a difficult opponent in the afternoon game, the No. 2-ranked Boaz Lady Pirates. The Lady Golden Tigers opened the game with a four-run home half of the first to take an initial 4-1 advantage; however, Boaz showed its prowess with an immediate six-run response in the second inning.

That would also be the script a few innings later when Russellville, making another offensive push, scored three runs in the fourth to tie the ballgame up 7-7; unfortunately for the Lady Golden Tigers, Boaz answered back with five runs in the fifth and three more insurance runs in the sixth inning.

Russellville’s final run of the game was scored in the fifth when Groce, who had a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, stroked a double to left field, driving in courtesy runner Brandtley Benford from first base.

Of the 23 runs scored in the game not quite half of them were earned. Boaz outhit Russellville 11-9 but also committed seven errors to RHS’ four. Suggs and Bishop combined for the Lady Golden Tigers in the circle, but it was Suggs who pitched most of the game and took the loss. In five and a third innings of work, Suggs allowed 15 runs (nine earned) off nine hits and had two strikeouts.

In addition to Groce’s three-hit day for RHS, Blevyn Sappington had a 2-for-2 game with a walk and a run scored. McCulloch also scored two of Russellville’s eight runs.

The Lady Golden Tigers closed their season with a 28-28-1 record.