Prep softball Madison 2, Talawanda 0
Mohawks pass tough challenge
Solid pitching, timely hitting pace Madison past visiting Talawanda.
Friday, April 11, 2008
MADISON TWP. — A challenge is what the Madison High School softball team needed, and that's exactly what the Mohawks got.
Solid pitching and key hitting enabled the host Mohawks to come away with a 2-0 win over Talawanda on Thursday, April 10.
Extras
Get latest headlines via RSS feedsIn the first inning, Madison jumped on Braves pitcher Kaitlyn Fields for three straight hits, including an RBI triple by Sarah Blevins. Kayla Holmes hit a sacrifice fly deep to right field to score Blevins with the last run scored by either team.
After that, it was a defensive battle between two solid squads. Fields limited Madison (8-0) to just five hits the rest of the way.
On the other side of things, Madison's ace Hannah Kendrick struck out 11 Braves batters and gave up just a pair of hits. The shy and unassuming pitcher didn't have much to say about her game, but felt she could've done better.
"I did OK, but I think I pitched better earlier this week," she said.
Kendrick said she hurt her right index finger on a first-inning fly out to second base. That was why she wasn't comfortable with Thursday's effort on the mound.
Through seven games of work, Kendrick now has 81 strikeouts. In eight games this season, Madison has outscored its opponents 75-5. Thursday's game was the fifth shutout this season, but it was also the Mohawks' closest game.
Madison coach Jamie Hughes said the imaginary wall formed by Talawanda third baseman Natalie Pierce and shortstop Shelby Colyer, gave his Mohawk batters fits.
"Their third baseman did a real nice job today and took us out of some of the things our hitters like to do," Hughes said. "And their pitcher did a really nice job too. We played Talawanda in a scrimmage and it wasn't as close. They've got a good team over there. ... I think a close game like this will help keep my girls humble."
Braves coach Melissa Metzger was pleased with her team's effort.
"They have some weapons in their arsenal, but we were able to keep them pretty much in check. I'm very proud of my girls for hanging with them," she said. "We gave ourselves a shot today."
Talawanda (3-5) hosts Eaton for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday. Madison has another test ahead of it, with a Saturday contest at big school Vandalia Butler.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2851 or jbombatch@coxohio.com.
