Coming off of a season where they finished second in the north region, the Bellevue College Softball team look to build off of a fairly successful season. With four players returning from the past season Coach Leah Francis has some experience with her team, which has plenty of young talent.
“The Sophomores have worked really hard to help the freshmen transition and understand what it means to be a Bulldog,” said Coach Francis.
The first month of the season went as planned for the squad, with the Bulldogs winning 11 of their first 18 games of league play. The Bulldogs had to pull out a clutch performance February 23 vs. North Christian University breaking 7-7 tie by scoring six runs in the last two innings of the game.
When South Puget Sound came into Bellevue College on March 6 the bulldogs dominated their opponent 20-0, scoring 20runs in four innings. Heather Benjamin and Cassidy Mast together accounted for four RBI’s apiece, with Tess Dixon striking out nine batters.
On March 8, the Bulldogs defeated Green River 24-5, with Dixon putting in another solid pitching performance and also helping offensively with six runs batted in Tinerra Adams matched Dixon with six of her own.
The Bulldogs have started April winning two of the first four games they’ve played. Including coming out on top of Edmonds Community College, back to back games with a combined score of 27 to two on April 4.
In the first game, Brooke Bonsen pitched a shutout. Katie Jackson was the ace on the plate with five RBI’s. Dixon came on to pitch during the second game and allowed only one hit and struck out four batters she was also on fire with the bat in her hand coming up with eight runs batted in.
Six batters on the team maintain at least a .350 batting average, with Erika Torr and Megan Lindgren leading the way, both batting at an even .500.
The team was stocked with players scoring double digit RBIs on the season. Tess Dixon led the way with 47 RBI’s. Rachael Delamare also had a good season, batting with 19 RBI’s, leading the team in hits.
“For us, the team is at its best when we are playing for each other and each person is contributing in any way they can,” Coach Francis said.
Standing third in their region at the moment and with 20 games left in the season the Bulldogs look forward to putting out their best performances in their upcoming games.