The Belding Redskins enjoyed another terrific softball season. Unfortunately, it ended too soon.
They were trying to stretch their regional championship streak to five but fell to Allendale 12-9 in the regional semifinal. They fought back from an 11-0 deficit before losing by three runs.
“We played hard to the end,” said coach Mikayla Linebaugh. “The girls never quit believing.”
Senior shortstop Rachel Hunt, who sat out the entire game with a sore hip, left a huge hole to fill.
Seven errors, including several early while Allendale built an 11-run lead, were also critical against the Redskins.
Three straight singles in the fifth helped Belding make it an 11-2 game and avoid the mercy-rule ending. Greta Wilker, who earlier in the game flied out to the centerfield fence, crushed a 3-run homer, and Alyviah Mason followed a few batters later with a two-run single to make it 12-7. Belding scored two more before the final out.
The Redskins ended the season at 18-12 and as district champions.
Belding graduates six seniors but will return a junior and six sophomores.
“You have to set your standards high,” Linebaugh said. “We’ll get back here. Nobody wants to be done when you get there.
“We’ll have some third-year players next year. We’ll go after it.”