JEFFERSON—Madison outlasted host Jefferson in an eight-inning Chagrin Valley Conference Lake Division showdown on Monday, 6-2.
The Blue Streaks and Falcons were deadlocked at 2-2 into the top of the eighth when Madison put together a four-run rally to cap off their conference opener.
“We just had that next play at-bat mentality,” said Madison head coach David Negin. “Zoey (Brown) did a great job getting on base, and once she was on, we had the top of our order, and I was pretty confident we could squeeze a run home with some of the hitters we have at the top of our lineup. We just had to keep doing what we were doing. We kept threatening to score every inning but couldn’t get that timely hit. However, we broke through in the eighth inning and came away with a big win.”
Gianna LaMarco got the Madison offense moving in the top of the first with her one-out single before Ally Negin smoked an RBI double to left center for a 1-0 lead.
It didn’t take long for Jefferson to answer as Alaina Barress singled to lead off the bottom of the first and came around to score on Rylee Demattia’s RBI double to tie the game at 1-1 after one.
From then on, it became a pitcher’s duel between the Blue Streaks’ Kara Mekulsia and the Falcons’ Olivia Lewis until the top of the seventh.
LaMarco worked a leadoff walk in the frame and moved to third on a while pitch and scored on a subsequent passed ball for a 2-1 Madison lead.
Marillia Matuz opened the Jefferson half of the seventh with a walk and moved to third on a Lewis single.
Lewis swiped second, opening up the door for Matuz to swipe home and bringing the contest to a 2-2 deadlock after seven.
Brown worked her leadoff walk, LaMarco reached on an error, and Negin delivered with an RBI single to score Brown for a 3-2 lead.
Tori Semple followed it up with an RBI single of her own, and then both Negin and Semple scored on a two-base error for a four spot in the eighth.
“Ally did what she’s always done, she came through,” Coach Negin said of his daughter. “Tori hasn’t started as hot as she’d like to this year, but for her to come through in that spot is good for her confidence as we continue on.”
In the bottom of the eighth, Meklusia slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts for the final two outs of the game to cap off a gutsy Blue Streaks win.
“She doesn’t get flustered,” Negin said of his pitcher. “Once we took the lead, I knew she’d take it to another level. She did that to seal the deal, and we’re fortunate to have her.”
This type of game against the Falcons is the first of what will be many close, hard-fought bouts in the Lake Division this season.
“Our league is tough. It’s one of the better ones in the area,” Negin said. “Games like today are a microcosm of what we’re going to be seeing day-in and day-out in our league. To be able to come through in key situations bodes well for the future; we’re going to have to get used to it.”
Negin went 3-for-5 with two RBI to pace Madison in the win, while Maddy Jo Moore finished 3-for-4 at the dish, and Hannah Welch went 2-for-5.
Addy Behm drove in two runs in the win.
Mekulsia picked up the win, going the distance and allowing just two earned runs on six hits with one walk and 15 strikeouts.
Jefferson dropped its home and season-opener, but a young team battled tooth and nail to the finish against Madison.
“I’m impressed with them today,” said Jefferson head coach Nick Price. “I put them through the wringer at practice. There are certain things that we’re saying that are starting to click. We’ve been putting them in game situations with tons of live pitching.”
Barress went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Demattia finished 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Lewis went the distance, taking the loss, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits with four walks and striking out 12.
Jefferson is back in action on April 1 as they host Maplewood, while Madison hits the diamond again on April 2 as Edgewood pays a visit.
