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Hot start lifts Bears over Dons

WEIRTON — A good start gave the Oak Glen softball team enough breathing room against Madonna on Wednesday.

The Golden Bears jumped out to the early lead, and they were able to put an end to a late comeback attempt by the Blue Dons during a 9-6 victory at Starvaggi Park.

Oak Glen scored the first four runs of the contest.

“We hit well tonight,” Oak Glen (10-5) head coach Sherrie Garner said. “We were able to move runners, and we were able to clear the bases when we had runners in scoring position. It was a long game. Our girls battled to ensure the win. Give credit to Madonna. Our girls had to battle.”

Madonna had five batters reach safely in the bottom of the seventh inning, resulting in three runs, but Maddie McKay came in and put out the fire for the Golden Bears.

“I give our girls a lot of credit,” Madonna (2-7) head coach Chris Conti said. “They never quit. They battled. Oak Glen is a great team. They kept the game close. I am proud that they were able to do that.”

Janaya Montgomery picked up the win for Oak Glen. She struck out five, walked 10 and allowed six runs on three hits in her 6 1/3 innings of work inside the circle. McKay relieved her with one out in the seventh and struck out both batters she faced to end the game.

“Janaya threw well,” Garner said. “She got tired. Seven innings is a long time. Maddie came in and closed it out. They complement each other. They work well together. It was windy out, and the wind makes for more force.

“We did a good job on defense. We only had one error. We fielded the ball. We played good defense behind our pitchers. It was cold, and that slows you down.”

Maddie Daugherty took the loss for Madonna. She struck out three and did not walk a batter, while allowing nine runs on 10 hits.

Three of Oak Glen’s 10 hits went for extra bases. Alexa Andrews tallied two triples and two RBIs. Hannah Walker collected a single, a double and three RBIs. Eileen Flowers finished with a single and two RBIs. McKay and Montgomery each contributed run-scoring singles. McKayla Goodlin delivered two singles, and Amber Moore added a single.

Two of Madonna’s three hits went for extra bases. Daugherty tallied a two-run triple. Jordan Schubert plated a pair of runs with a single. Mikayla Sole doubled, while Adriana Lenhart contributed an RBI.

Oak Glen netted three runs in the first and one more in the second to take a 4-0 lead. Madonna countered with two runs in the third to cut its deficit in half.

The Golden Bears regained control with four runs in the fourth to extend their advantage to 8-2. The Blue Dons pushed a run across in the bottom half of the inning to make it 8-3.

The victors added an insurance run in the sixth to regain a six-run advantage.

“Everybody played well,” Conti said. “The kids played well, and that is all you can ask.”

Madonna is scheduled to play city-rival Weir at 5 p.m. today at home.

“Weir is a good team,” Conti said. “We just want to come out and play our game.”

Oak Glen is scheduled to play at 5 p.m. Friday at Lisbon.

Oak Glen 9, Madonna 6

Oak Glen 3-1-0 4-0-1 0 — 9-10-1

Madonna 0-0-2 1-0-0 3 — 6-3-3

OAK GLEN (10-5): Montgomery (WP, 6 1/3IP, 6R, 3H, 5K, 10BB), McKay (2/3IP, 0R, 0H, 2K, 0BB) and Walker.

MADONNA (2-7): Daugherty (LP, 7IP, 9R, 9H, 3K, 0BB) and Sole.

TWO OR MORE HITS: Oak Glen 3 (Walker 2, Andrews 2, Goodlin 2); Madonna none. DOUBLES: Oak Glen 1 (Walker); Madonna 1 (Sole). TRIPLES: Oak Glen 2 (Andrews); Madonna (Daugherty). HOME RUNS: Oak Glen none; Madonna none. RBIs: Oak Glen 9 (Walker 3, Andrews 2, Flowers 2, McKay, Montgomery); Madonna (Daugherty 2, Schubert 2, Lenhart).

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