Madonna down but not out, must win today
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ELLENBORO -- The Madonna softball team has its back up against the wall, as the Blue Dons are now faced with a do-or-die situation.
Madonna struck first against Ritchie County, but the Rebels scored seven unanswered runs, en route to a 7-2 victory Tuesday evening at home in Game 1 of the Class A Region 1 Tournament.
"They hit the ball," Madonna (13-9) head coach Chris Conti said. "I don't know how many people we left on base in the first two or three innings. Some of their runs were unearned. We had a couple of walks and a couple little mistakes, and the next thing we knew they were on top. They are a good team. They were a little better than we were after the first two or three innings.
"We just didn't hit the ball. We kind of laid down."
Game 2 is scheduled for 6 p.m. today at Starvaggi Park.
"The girls are up," Conti said. "They know it is a best-of-three series. That team is not that many runs better than we are. They just hit the ball in some key situations, and we didn't. They are ready to go. I have confidence in them."
The loss snapped the Blue Dons' three-game winning streak, and it is Madonna's first loss in the postseason. Madonna outscored its three sectional opponents, 34-5.
The Rebels (20-5) have won four straight games. Ritchie County has won at least four straight games four times this season.
Landry Bone took the loss for Madonna. She allowed seven earned runs on nine hits, while striking out five and walking five.
"Landry pitched a great game," Conti said. "All the girls played well. They just hit the ball in key situations. It is a best of three. We are going to be ready to play (today)."
Chloe Elliott collected the the win for Ritchie County. She allowed one earned run on three hits, while striking out 13 and walking one.
"She is a good pitcher," Conti said. "She is nothing we haven't faced before. We faced the girl from Weir, the girl from Oak Glen and the girl from Conotton Valley. She is about the same speed. We just didn't hit the ball. We had her timed out early on, but we just did not hit the ball. When we did hit the ball, we hit the ball right at them."
Bone got the Blue Dons off to a good start, as her home run in the top of the first gave Madonna an early 2-0 lead.
Bone later added a single, as did Casey Yacos. Maddie Daugherty also scored on Bone's home run.
Lillie Law tallied two singles and two RBIs for the Rebels. Maci Ireland delivered a single, a double and a pair of RBIs while Alyvia Pittman collected a triple and an RBI. Olivia Dodd added a double and an RBI, Elliott helped her own cause with two singles and an RBI, and Chaslyn Jones singled.
Dodd scored two runs for the home team, while Marissa Jeffrey, Kiarra Weekley, Jayci Gray, Pittman and Ireland all crossed the plate once for the victors. Jones also stole a base.
The visitors held the lead until the bottom of the third when the Rebels erupted for three runs to take a 3-2 lead. They recorded a run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one more in the sixth to account for all the scoring in the game.
Ritchie County 7, Madonna 2
Madonna 2-0-0 0-0-0 0 -- 2 3 0
Ritchie County 0-0-3 1-2-1 x -- 7 9 1
MADONNA (13-9): Bone (LP, CG, 7R, 7ER, 9H, 5K, 5BB) and Sole. Bone S, HR, 2RBIs; Yacos S.
RITCHIE COUNTY (20-5): Elliott (WP, CG, 2R, 1, ER, 3H, 13K, 1BB) and Gray. Pittman T, RBI; Elliott 2S, RBI; Dodd D, RBI; Law 2S, 2RBIs; Ireland S, D, 2RBIs; Jones S.