Madonna battles back, but falls 8-7
Blue Dons’ strong season ends in sectional consolation bracket
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WEIRTON -- The rebuilding Madonna softball program put together a strong season and made a lot of progress this spring.
The progress for this spring, however, came to an end Friday evening.
The Blue Dons, which finished with as many wins this season (17) as they had in the previous two combined, suffered a tough 8-7 loss to Magnolia in a Class A Region 1, Section 1 sectional tournament consolation bracket elimination game at Starvaggi Park.
Despite the tough ending, Madonna coach Jason Backel was both encouraged by the season and excited for the process to continue.
"It was a great season," he said. "From where we were two years ago, to competing with the best and taking a team like Wheeling Central to the limit (Thursday), and battling hard with a very good Magnolia team, I couldn't ask for anything more from them.
"I love this team, it was very enjoyable coaching them. We're going to meet next week and get started working on next year. We're going to keep building this program up, we want to get to the next level. And, we're getting there.
"We're competing with good teams and we're going to have a lot coming back. I'm looking forward to it."
Madonna fell behind 4-1 and rallied to take a 7-4 lead in the fifth, but the Blue Eagles' Madeline Delaney blasted what ended up being a game-deciding three-run homer in the sixth and the visitors were able to hang on.
For their trouble, they earned another shot at state-ranked Wheeling Central in the sectional final, needing to beat the Maroon Knights twice.
Madonna had dropped a tough, 1-0 decision at Wheeling Central on Thursday, while the Blue Eagles fell 5-1 to the Knights earlier in the tournament.
The Blue Dons (17-9) fought the whole way. Down three through four and a half innings, they rallied with six runs, all with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Madi Owens started the rally with a two-run single, then she scored on a passed ball to knot the score. Ally Laughlin's RBI single gave Madonna its first lead, then she scored on after a throw to first on a dropped third strike that would have ended the inning sailed into the outfield.
The rally was capped by a Mia Pietranton RBI single to make it 7-4 before the Blue Eagles' own rally was capped by Delaney's blast.
Madonna's first run came on a single by Owens in the first after Magnolia had jumped ahead 2-0 in the top half.
"They never quit," Backel said. "They never quit in any game, they played hard to the end."
Madonna sophomore hurler Kendall Ryan concluded her solid campaign with three strikeouts.
The Blue Dons depart four seniors in Carmella Pulice, Pietranton, Grace Parker and Ella Wingett.
"I could not have asked for a better group of seniors," Backel said. "They stuck by us when times were thin. They're great leaders."
WVSSAC Class A Region 1, Section 1 Tournament
Consolation bracket final
Magnolia 8, Madonna 7
Magnolia 2-0-0 2-0-4 0 – 8 10 2
Madonna 1-0-0 0-6-0 0 – 7 11 2
MAGNOLIA (13-11): McDiffitt (WP, CG, 7R, 11H, 6K, 2BB) and Heil. Delaney HR, 3RBI; Littleton S, D, 3RBI; Tamborello S, D, 2RBI; Heil 2S; McKeever S; McDiffitt S.
MADONNA (17-9): Ryan (LP, CG, 8R, 7ER, 10H, 3K, 3BB) and Orecchio. Wingett 4S; Owens 2S, 2RBI; Ryan 2S; Laughlin S, RBI; Pietranton 2S, RBI.