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TORONTO -- This time the story was different.
The Toronto softball team plated seven runs in the first two innings and did not look back en route to an 11-2 victory against Madonna on Senior Night Thursday evening at Michael Simpson Park.
"Yeah, it was a little different game today," Toronto (11-4) head coach Steve Trifonoff said. "We pitched well. We played good defense.
"We struggled offensively more than we should have. She kept us off-balance. She threw her changeup. It was a lot different than the first time."
The Blue Dons defeated the Red Knights, 13-12, in the two team's first meeting this season March 29 at Starvaggi Park.
"It was different," Madonna (7-8) head coach Jason Backel said. "They threw their No. 1 pitcher. I knew it was going to be a different story. Reeves is one of the top five pitchers in the valley.
"That is a very good double-AA team in the OVACs. They are going to probably finish first or second in the OVACs. I'm happy to get a split.
"We battled. We put the ball in play. We made a lot of the plays we should make. We just made some mental mistakes that we will learn from."
Andrea Reeves started the game and picked up the win for the hosts. Reeves struck out nine without walking a batter in her four innings of work inside the circle. She retired the first 10 batters she faced.
"We're starting to gear up for Monday," Trifonoff said. "We wanted to make sure Andrea got enough pitches in. The weather for Saturday is not looking good. We wanted to give her 50-60 pitches today and 50-60 pitches tomorrow. If we do that, she should be good to go Monday. She threw well."
Reeves was replaced to start the fifth by Leah Gibson. Gibson struck out four without walking a batter in her three innings of work.
"We had a couple errors behind her," Trifonoff said.
Kendal Ryan took the loss for the girls from Hancock County. She struck out six and walked three.
The hosts outhit the visitors, 11-4.
"They are junior laden," Backel said. "They start six juniors and one senior. We start six underclassmen. Toronto, Wheeling Central and Conotton Valley are the class of the small schools. They are what we strive for.
"I was happy with our effort. We just made some mental mistakes that will drive a coach crazy.
"We are second in the OVACs. We are supposed to play a doubleheader against Wellsville Saturday. If we play and if we are able to win those games, that will give us a couple more wins.
"As of now, we are supposed to play Frontier Monday. They are a very good team. They came down from double-A to single-A. Just looking at their scores, they are a competitive team. It should be a good game Monday. We will see what happens."
The victors recorded four doubles in the game.
Individually, standout catcher Michelle Anderson tallied two singles, two doubles and four RBI, Laney Danko collected two singles, a double and an RBI and Asthon Thomas singled home a run. Also, Calle Anderson delivered a double, and Monique Sloane and Isabelle Cattrell each contributed a single.
Sloane is Toronto's lone senior.
"She is our only senior, and her first year of playing softball was last year," Trifonoff said. "She shows up every single day and works to get better.
"She did not play a lot last year. This year, she is pretty much our leadoff hitter. She has a lot of speed. She batted right handed in her first year. We turned her around, and she has become a slapper. She has done a good job as our leadoff batter.
"She's not vocal. She just shows up every day. She works hard to get better."
For Madonna, Carmella Pulice produced two singles, McKenzie Sargent tallied an RBI single and Chloe Orecchio collected a base hit.
"Coach Backel is doing a good job with Madonna," Trifonoff said. "They continue to improve. They are where they are supposed to be. They battle at the plate.
"Andrea threw her changeup. If you have to look for that, it makes all of her other stuff that much harder."
After Reeves struck out the side in the top of first, the Red-and-White plated three runs in the bottom half of the inning to gain control.
Sloane led off the inning with a single, and Danko followed with a base hit to right. Michelle Anderson, who went 4-for-4 on the day, doubled home Sloane to make the score 1-0. Danko scored as part of a double steal, and Thomas singled home Anderson to increase Toronto's advantage to 3-0.
The Red Knights continued their good start in the second.
Cattrell was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Sloane walked with one out and Danko singled to load the bases. Michelle Anderson then doubled off the fence in center scoring Cattrell and Sloane to extend Toronto's advantage to 5-0. A misplayed ball in the outfield on a line drive off the bat of Calle Anderson allowed Danko and Michelle Anderson to score to make the score 7-0.
"We want her to stay patient," Trifonoff said about Michelle Anderson. "We want her to stay in the middle of the field. We want her to hit it into the gaps. We want her to stay in the big part of the park. We don't want her to roll over and pull everything."
Toronto tacked on another run in the fourth to make the score 8-0.
Gibson replaced Sloane in the batting order when she came on to pitch in the fifth.
"I imagine it is a little bit hard for her being the only senior on the team," Trifonoff said. "She does her best to set an example. She is not a rah-rah kind of leader. She doesn't yell. She works hard. She always has a smile on her face. She shows up every day."
The Blue Dons scored a run following in an error in the inning.
Rylee Birkheimer reached on a dropped ball in the outfield, and she scored on a single by Mackenzie Sargent to make the score 8-1.
"Considering we have two girls on crutches I am happy with the effort," Backel said. "We are battling. It is tough when we run into a team like this that has a lot of experience. I knew today was going to be different. I'm happy with the girls."
The Red Knights plated a pair of runs in the home half of the inning to take a 10-1 lead. Both teams scored a run in the sixth.
"The season is going well," Trifonoff said. "We have lost a couple of tough games. We lost to Indian Creek. We lost to Harrison Central in the bottom of the seventh. We split with Wheeling Central, and they are really good.
"We are playing pretty good ball right now. We want to peak at the right time."
Sloane was honored prior to the start of the game.
"She did not play softball when she was young," Trifonoff said. "Last year was her first year. "She is becoming a little more vocal. She's not a rah-rah kind of leader."
Toronto is scheduled to play Buckeye Local at 5:30 p.m. today at home. The team is also scheduled to play East Liverpool in a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday on the road.
Madonna is off today before playing Wellsville in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Saturday on the road.
Saturday is the cutoff for team's to qualify for the annual OVAC Tournament.
Toronto 11, Madonna 2
Madonna 000 011 0 – 2 4 4
Toronto 340 121 X – 11 11 2
MADONNA (7-8): Ryan LP (6K, 3BB) and Orecchio. Orecchio S; Pulice 2S; Sargent S, RBI.
TORONTO (11-4): Reeves WP (4IP, 9K, 0BB), Gibson (3IP, 4K, 0BB) and M. Anderson. Sloane S; Danko 2S, D, RBI; M. Anderson 2S, 2D, 4RBI; C. Anderson D; Thomas S, RBI; Catrell S.