Belhaven clinch regular season title

Belhaven Athletics:
JACKSON, Miss. (VDN) — The Belhaven Softball team celebrated Senior Day in style on Saturday, sweeping LaGrange in a doubleheader at Jim McLeod Field to close out the regular season.    

In between the games, the Blazers honored seniors Reagan Bryan, Lauren Dunbar, Madeline Bullock, and Ellie Williamson for their contributions to the program.

With the game one victory, Belhaven secured the CCS Regular Season Championship and will enter next week’s CCS Tournament as the No. 1 seed, where the Blazers will face the winner of LaGrange and Maryville.

Game One – Belhaven 11, LaGrange 3 (5 innings)
Belhaven used a pair of big innings to pull away after an early push from LaGrange. After Ellie Williamson reached and Kaleigh Steversonfollowed with a single, Lauren Dunbar delivered a two-run double to left center. Moments later, Liberty Gillihan added an RBI single to make it 3-0.  

LaGrange answered in the third, capitalizing on a double and an error to tie the game at 3-3. Belhaven responded immediately in the bottom half when Reagan Bryan doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Williamson to regain a 4-3 lead.  

The Blazers continued to build momentum in the fourth. Maddie Bruner launched a solo home run, and Grace Langston followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 6-3.  

Belhaven broke the game open in the fifth. Steverson led off the inning with a home run to center, and Dunbar followed with a double. After Gillihan was hit by a pitch, Gracey Harbour drove in a run with a double. Bruner kept the inning going, reaching on a strikeout and wild pitch, before Bullock drew a bases-loaded walk.

A sacrifice fly from Maryanna Guy and an RBI single from Bryan capped a five-run inning and sealed the 11-3 run-rule win.  

In the circle, Macy Funderburk provided steady relief, allowing just one hit over 2.2 innings while striking out three to earn the win after entering in the third inning.  

Game Two – Belhaven 10, LaGrange 2 (5 innings)
The Blazers carried that momentum into the finale, using a seven-run third inning to secure the sweep.

After a scoreless first, Belhaven got on the board in the second. Madeline Bullock singled and later scored, and Grace Langston followed with an RBI single that turned into a two-run play after an outfield error to make it 2-0.  

Belhaven erupted in the third inning to take full control.

After Williamson reached, Kaleigh Steversondelivered a two-run home run to extend the lead. The Blazers continued to apply pressure with aggressive baserunning and timely hitting, including RBI plays from Maddie Bruner and Bullock. Later in the inning, Williamson delivered the biggest swing, a three-run double to left that pushed the lead to 9-0.  

LaGrange threatened in the fourth, putting a runner aboard, but Belhaven turned a key double play to end the inning and maintain the shutout.  

The visitors scored twice in the fifth following a pair of errors, but the Blazers answered in the bottom half. Bullock singled and moved into scoring position before Steverson drove her in with an RBI single to end the game at 10-2.  

In the circle, AR Sharp set the tone with 3.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out four. Laura Beth Nesmith closed out the game, working through late pressure to secure the run-rule victory.  

With the top seed secured, the Blazers will look ahead to next week’s CCS Tournament, where they will open play against the winner of LaGrange and Maryville.