Andrew Grimm RUNNING — Madonna's Kendal Ryan heads to second base after a teammate got a hit during Monday's tournament opener.

Madonna plated the last 10 runs of the game, including a 7-run sixth inning that put them in front for good, in storming back for a comeback 10-4 victory over Trinity Christian on Monday in the opening round of the Class A, Region 1 tournament.

“Thank God our bats came alive,” Madonna head coach Jason Backel said. “We started slow, I don’t understand why that happened. That was unlike our team, but that was one heck-of-a comeback by our girls. They showed toughness and resiliency. I don’t think we have been down like that this year and been able to come back to win, so that showed a lot of heart by these girls.”

Madonna, the No. 2 seed in the region and highest seed in their bracket, will host No. 3 seed Ritchie County in the next round on Wednesday. The winner of that game is one win away from the state tournament.

Trinity Christian, the No. 7 seed, goes into the loser’s bracket where they will meet sixth-seeded Clay-Battelle in an elimination game.

Andrew Grimm DELIVERY — Madonna pitcher Peyton Conley goes through her motion.

“They are the seven seed but they’re a very good seven seed, they can beat anybody,” Backel said of Trinity. “They’re a very good team and that is a quality win for us to start the tournament. We might see them again.

“We still have a lot of work left to do. Ritchie is a good team, it’s going to be a challenge.”

The Warriors (11-12) broke through first with a big second inning, scoring four runs. Catcher Josalyn Phillips’ bases-clearing triple providing the big hit and turning a 1-0 lead into 4-0.

From there, however, Blue Dons starter Peyton Conley settled in and kept Trinity from adding any more runs. She finished with 12 strikeouts and three walks, and seven of those punch outs came after Madonna had fallen behind.

“She struggled a little early and then she settled down, she settled in and did a really good job,” Backel said.

Andrew Grimm SAFELY ABOARD — Madonna's Taylor Birkhimer looks to round first base after getting a hit.

The Blue Dons (20-5) got a run back in the bottom of the second on Kaleigh Gamble’s RBI single.

The deficit remained 4-1 until the fifth when Taylor Birkhimer led off with a single, Conley’s single with one out put two on and Owens came up and tripled to center with two outs, cutting the margin to 4-3.

An inning later, Elaina Foresha’s RBI double scored Rylee Birkhimer, who had singled to lead off, knotting the score up, then Taylor Birkhimer put a ball in play and an error scored another run, giving Madonna its first lead.

Geena Bikhamer then singled in two more runs, and Owens came up and doubled in two more. She eventually scored Kendal Ryan’s RBI groundout, providing the final margin.

“We got our 20th win and that’s the first time Madonna has had 20 wins in a long time,” Backel said. “We still have work to do.”

Andrew Grimm POWER SWING — Madonna's Madi Owens, one of the top hitters in the state of West Virginia this season, drives a two-run double. She had three hits and four RBIs on Monday.

WVSSAC Class A Tournament

Region 1 Opening Round

At Starvaggi Park

No. 2 Madonna 10, No. 7 Trinity Christian 4

TC 0-4-0 0-0-0 0 — 4 6 3

Andrew Grimm MAKING CONTACT — Madonna's Elaina Foresha connects with her swing.

M 0-1-0 0-2-7 x — 10 10 0

TRINITY CHRISTIAN (11-12): White (LP, 5 1/3IP, 7R, 7ER, 7H, 4K, 1BB), Conn (2/3IP, 3R, 0ER, 1H, 0K, 1BB) and Phillips. Phillips D, S, 3RBIs; Moore 2S; Hopkins S, RBI; Titus S.

MADONNA (20-5): Conley (WP, CG, 4R, 4ER, 6H, 12K, 3BB) and Foresha. Conley S; G. Birkhimer S, 2RBIs; Owens T, D, S, 4RBIs; Ryan RBI; R. Birkhimer 2S; Foresha D, RBI; Gamble S, RBI; T. Birkhimer S, RBI.

Andrew Grimm REACTION — The Madonna bench celebrates the go-ahead run during Monday's game.