WEIRTON – The Madonna softball team battled, but it came up short against Ritchie County.

The game was scoreless through three innings, however, the Rebels plated a run in each of the final four innings en route to shutting out the Blue Dons, 4-0, in a West Virginia Class A Region 1 Co-Final Monday evening at Starvaggi Park.

“They have an all-state pitcher, and she showed why,” Madonna (21-7) head coach Jason Backel said. “She’s fantastic. I knew she was going to be tough to beat. We were able to string some hits together in that first game. In that first game, we scored two runs in the first inning, but after that she shut us out in the next 20. She mixed up her pitches. She has good speed. She had our number today.

“I want to stay positive. We had a great season. We won 21 games. We will play anybody. We played Wheeling Central. We beat Linsly twice. We beat Brooke. We played Oak Glen, which is a defending state champion, we played Martins Ferry and we played Conotton Valley in the OVAC Championship Game. We beat a good Frontier team. We have played a lot of bigger schools. The season did not end the way we wanted it to.

“We had a great season. We were 21-7. That is the best record we have had in a long time. We have a lot coming back, but I am going to miss these seniors.

“Kendal Ryan saved the program when she came to Madonna four year’s ago. She was our only pitcher for a couple of years. She hit the ball well in the playoffs. Tina Littleton was the heart-and-soul of our program. She played fantastic defense. She only came out for softball the last two years. I wish I had her for all four years. She was really emotional after the game. She did not want the season to end. Rylee Birkhimer has been a staple for us at third base. She started every game for us except the few she had to miss four track. She was fantastic.

“We have a lot coming back. That is one positive. The program keeps getting better. We have improved our win total in each of the past five seasons. We do not shy away from anyone.

“It was nice to beat Trinity Christian twice. It was nice to get a little revenge from last season.

“We just couldn’t hit the ball. We got runners on base, but we couldn’t come up with the timely hits.

“Peyton pitched really well. She had a no-hitter. Then, she gave up four unearned runs. She gave up four runs today, but only two were earned. She only gave up two earned runs in three games. I cannot ask anything more from her. She pitched well down the stretch.”

Rocklyn Marcum picked up the win inside the circle for the Rebels (19-10). Marcum struck out while walking four. She only allowed one hit in the game.

Peyton Conley took the loss for the girls from Hancock County. She struck out four while walking one.

With the win, Ritchie County has advanced to the state tournament down in South Charleston.

Conley kept the visitors off the scoreboard through three innings, however, the visitors were finally able to break through in the fourth.

Ava Satterfield singled to right to start the inning, and she advanced to second on a passed ball before moving up to third on a groundout. Then, Satterfield scored her team’s first run on a sacrifice fly to right by Cassy Hardbarger giving Ritchie County a 1-0 lead.

The victors increased their advantage in the fifth. With two outs, Marcum recorded a double to left, and the pitcher scored on a single by Chelsie Jeffrey to make it a 2-0 ballgame.

The hosts got a pair of runners on in the home half of the inning thanks to back-to-back walks with one out, however, Marcum was able to escape the inning unscathed thanks to a strikeout and a groundout.

Ritchie County extended their advantage in the sixth. Rindy Perkins singled to lead off the inning before advancing to third on a double by Hardbarger. Then, Perkins scored on a fielder’s choice by Abbigayl Cox to make the score, 3-0.

The Rebels tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. With one out, Jeffrey doubled to center before moving up to third on a passed ball. Then, Jeffrey scored on an error giving her team a 4-0 advantage.

Madonna was down to its final chance in the seventh, however, Marcum retired the Blue Dons in order to end the game.

“The girls were very emotional,” Backel said. “It was a tough way to end the season. I overheard one girl say, ‘The season went by in a blink of an eye.’ We played 28 games, and the season went by in a blink of an eye. We played 28 games, and we play on dirt. There is not too many teams that play on dirt that play that many games. I have to give my coaching staff credit for getting the field ready.

“Thank God we were able to stay healthy. It was a disappointing end to the season. The girls gave me everything they had. That is all I can ask. They know that if they ever need anything all they have to do is give me a call. I will always be there for them. I really like all of these girls.

“It was nice to see some of former players come back today. Chloe Orecchio is still playing Division II softball. She came back today. Mia Pietranton played for me, and she came back today. It is nice to see former players coming back and supporting the program.”

Ryan singled in the sixth for the lone hit of the game for the Blue Dons.

“I am going to give them the next few months off,” Backel said. “Some of the girls play basketball. We will play fall ball. I do have some girls who play travel ball. I have five girls who play travel ball. That is a good start. Fall ball is for the coaches to see what we have to work with.

“It is tough. We only have one pitcher coming back. We are going to have to develop another pitcher.

“We have girls coming back. We have an all-state shortstop (Madi Owens) who hit 15 home runs. We have a freshman catcher. We have a sophomore pitcher. We have Kaleigh Gamble at second base. We have our centerfielder – Geena Birkhimer – coming back. In left field, we have Taylor Birkhimer. She is Coach (George) Vargo’s granddaughter. She hadn’t played since the fifth grade. She really was a tough out the last couple of games. She is a freshman.

“I was talking to Chloe Orecchio and she said the difference in this year’s team compared to last year’s team is the outfield. The infield was the same except for the new catcher, but we had those two outfielders out there who covered a lot of ground.”

Madonna is going to miss its seniors next year, but the Blue Dons do have plenty of talent returning to the field next season.

“I am looking forward to next season,” Backel said. “I don’t think anyone is as tough as us.”

Ritchie County 4, Madonna 0

Ritchie County 000 111 1 – 4 7 0

Madonna 000 000 0 – 0 1 2

RITCHIE COUNTY (19-10): Marcum WP (8K, 4BB) and Hardbarger. Marcum S, D; Jeffrey S, D, RBI; Satterfield S, RBI; Perkins S, D; Hardbarger D, RBI; Cox RBI.

MADONNA (21-7): Conley LP (4K, 1BB) and Foresha. Ryan S.