MADISON — It’s wasn’t the Fairytale ending of a year ago, but Belmont wouldn’t go down without a fight in this year’s WIAA Softball Division 5 state championship game.

In a true game of inches, No. 2 seed Almond–Bancorft banged out single-game Division 5 state tournament record 20 hits in a 16–8 victory over the Braves in Saturday morning’s D5 title game Saturday at Goodman Diamond.

Saturday’s win avenged the Eagles’ 8–3 loss to Belmont in last year’s D5 state championship game.

Nine of the 10 Almond–Bancroft girls, who played in last year’s state title game play in this year’s as well.

“I think they are all a year older,” said Belmont head coach Jeff Hodgson. “We were able to work around the bottom of their order last year, but I would say the bottom of their order is a little bit better.

“And at the same time, our lack of experience defensively in some positions just took a toll on us. Every chance we had a chance to gain some momentum then came up with a big play to slow us down.

Almond–Bancroft (28–1) scored in every inning and blew a close game wide open with six runs in the top of the seventh inning.

But in true Belmont fashion, Hodgson’s Braves (23–7) battle to the final out.

FOR MORE COVERAGE of the Braves at this year's WIAA Softball State Tournament pick up a copy of this week's The Platteville Journal or Republican Journal.