New Brockton Belles fall one short of title game

By Jeremy Wise

Published: July 21, 2008

In the first trip for any New Brockton Dixie fastpitch softball team to a state tournament, the New Brockton Belles had early success with a Friday win over Muscle Shoals.

However, they could not continue that success over the weekend, dropping a 14-0 decision to AUM and losing 11-5 to Wilcox.

If New Brockton had beaten Wilcox, they would have faced AUM for the title.

A few errors, though, did not allow that to happen.

New Brockton Belles head coach Jody Stuckey said Wilcox scored about nine unearned runs in the game.

“Against Wilcox, we were sluggish,” he said. “We just weren’t sharp.”

The big blow came with the bases loaded and Wilcox leading 4-2.

Two New Brockton players collided on a fly ball.

“Effort got them hurt,” Stuckey said.

The ball traveled to the fence, where an infielder retrieved it.

By the time the throw got into the infield, all four runs had scored.

On the play, both New Brockton players were hurt.

“I think it knocked one of them out,” he said, adding Chelsey Holloway received a swollen eye and a busted lip on the play.

Holloway managed to take the mound later in the game despite the injuries.

It was not the only example of a Belle playing hurt.

Stuckey said Aubrey Hawkins cut her knee on a play and twisted it slightly, but she managed to continue playing.

“They didn’t quit,” he said. “I believe they gave it their all.”

Stuckey said the team may have been emotionally drained after the win over Muscle Shoals, which required several rallies to win.

“We couldn’t get back focused,” he said.

AUM pounded Pleasant Grove 22-3 the night before they played New Brockton, and the offense continued in a 14-0 win.

Stuckey said AUM’s offense could hit, and that is why he opted to pitch Lynn Kerrigan.

“She’s a good location pitcher,” he said. “I thought we’d catch them with the offspeed stuff. It worked partially. The score doesn’t come close to reflecting the
game.

Stuckey said all of New Brockton’s pitchers except Heather Hendrix and Holloway threw in that game, building some experience.

In the end, inexperience is what hurt the Belles, Stuckey said.

“It’s just a lack of state experience,” he said. “I believe we could’ve went further, but I couldn’t be prouder (of the team).”

Not only did the losses end New Brockton’s run, it ended the career of Stuckey, who said he will not continue coaching next year.