Bessemer City softball all-stars cap "Summer of Fun" with Dixie League gold. Here's how

Dustin Morehead didn’t have a long list of goals for the Bessemer City 12-under all-star softball team. In fact, there were only two this summer which he reminded the team with regularity.

“The first goal was simply to have fun. And the second was to win,” he said. “It’s my belief that if we have fun and go into games without any pressure, the girls will be better able to execute. After that, the winning takes care of itself.”

Morehead expected his young group to win its share of games. Never did he expect a Dixie League Softball World Series title to be part of the plan, however.

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The Bessemer City 12-under all-stars capped a stellar summer by claiming the Dixie League Softball World Series’ Ponytails division earlier this week in Alexandria, Louisiana.

In four games, Bessemer City outscored opponents from West Chatham (North Carolina), Georgia, Louisiana and South Carolina 32-4. It also went unscathed through state and regional tournament competition.

“When things got started in April, we felt there was a good core of girls (in Bessemer City) that could accomplish something special. These girls really bought into that belief,” Morehead said. “This lineup had speed, power and balance. It really made it hard on anyone we played.”

Bessemer City had a team batting average of .384 this summer. In 13 games, the team has 28 extra-base hits, including three home runs.

Its lineup featured six players who hit .400 or better: Avery Price (.656, 2 RBIs), Marissa Kiser (.576, 23 RBIs, HR), Blair Culberson (.536, 10 RBIs), Addy Morehead (.500, 14 RBIs, HR), Bre Bates (.481, 11 RBIs) and Oakleigh Herring (.462, 9 RBIs, HR).

“There isn’t a weak spot in the lineup. Really they all can hit the ball well,” he said.

Bessemer City also received stellar pitching throughout its run to a Dixie League Softball World Series title.

Addy Morehead was 4-0 with two saves. She allowed five runs (four earned) with 49 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched. Zoe Culberson also went 4-0, allowing two runs and striking out 40 batters in 19 innings of work.

“The two of them are like 1A and 1B; you have a pair of aces in your dugout,” Morehead said. "We figured we had the best two pitchers in whatever tournament we played, and that really helps when needing to hold down opponents.”

Also contributing to the team’s success included Ava Blanton, Aiyona Gilliam, Hailey Morales, Lilly Stiffler and Victoria Payne.

According to Morehead, a plaque wasn’t necessary to deem the softball team as winners.

“We had some girls who had never played recreation ball before this year,” Morehead said. “We practiced two to three times each week, and little by little their game improved and progressed. They’ve been good listeners and stuck with what we’ve been trying to tell them.”

More importantly, the team had the backing of its entire city.

“We’re mighty thankful for the City of Bessemer City and the support they gave us throughout,” Morehead said. “As you win, the crowd gets bigger and bigger. They’ve been cheering us on, sending kind words; it’s been wonderful representing such a great town.”

A community celebration is being held Friday night in honor of the Bessemer City 12-under all-stars’ Dixie League Softball World Series title. The event gets underway at 6:30 p.m. at Stinger Park.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Dixie League softball: Bessemer City takes 12-under World Series title