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Madonna softball schedule and bus times are up!Let's Go Blue!
By MIKE MATHISON, sports editor POSTED: April 7, 2010
Walks lead to city title
By MIKE MATHISON, sports editorPOSTED: April 16, 2010
WEIRTON — Neither softball coach was overjoyed Thursday at Starvaggi Park. But, Madonna’s Chris Conti was admittedly a little happier than Weir’s Jason Angle after the Blue Dons kept the city championship trophy with a 10-2 victory. “It’s very good to win the city championship,” said Conti. “I just don’t think that was one of our better efforts this year. We didn’t hit the ball like we have been. For a city championship game you have to be more aggressive and I don’t think we were aggressive. “I think we can play better than that. The last couple of nights we played really well and hit the ball really well against some good teams.” Both teams finished with four singles and two errors. But, Weir’s two errors were costly ones. Madonna started the bottom of the second inning with two walks, but the Red Riders committed errors on the next two hitters. Weir’s Ashley Jones then struck out the next hitter, which would have given the visitors an exit out of the inning. “Realistically, we should have been out of that inning with runners on second and third and we could have been up 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth,” said Angle. Instead, six more batters came to the plate in the 11 at-bat inning. Jones took the loss. She walked 12 and hit three batters. “Throughout everything, Ashley battled,” said Angle. “She wanted to pitch and she will get some more opportunities. The main reason why I decided to throw her today is Micah (DiBacco) needed a day off. Everybody needs a rest. She’s a freshman and probably not used to pitching so many consecutive days.” Madonna’s Rebecca Stewart struck out nine and walked five. Maria Gianni had a single and two RBI, while Courtney Moss and Isabella Anile each collected a single and RBI for Madonna. “I don’t think we brought our bats with us today,” said Conti. “When we had situations to hit the ball hard we didn’t hit the ball hard.” The Blue Dons are 10-4 and visit Wellsville today. Weir High is 2-8 and hosts Steubenville today and St. John Central for a Saturday doubleheader. “We’re positive as much as I possibly can be,” said Angle. “These girls did not quit today and they don’t quit. They play hard and will keep playing hard.” Madonna 10, Weir 2 Weir High 000 110 0 – 2 4 2 Madonna 060 202 x – 10 4 2 WEIR HIGH: Jones (LP, 4K, 12BB), DiBacco (6th, 1K, 0BB) and Gianangeli; Buffo 1B; Jones 1B, RBI; Fodor 1B; N. Robinson 1B, RBI. MADONNA: Stewart (WP, 9K, 5BB) and Myers; Nogay 1B; Gianni 1B, 2RBI; Moss 1B, RBI; Anile 1B, RBI; Good RBI; Myers RBI; Lyons RBI.
Dons, Knights battle for sectional crown
By TRACY WATSON, special to the Herald-Star
WHEELING — With each recording a victory against Bishop Donahue on Wednesday, Wheeling Central and Weirton Madonna have turned the West Virginia Class A Section One softball tournament into a best-of-3 situation. The Maroon Knights took advantage of four Bishops errors to record a 4-0 victory in the first game before the Blue Dons eliminated Donahue with a 5-2 victory in the nightcap at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Sports Complex. Coach Chris Conti’s top-seeded Madonna (15-7) squad will now battle coach Rick Magruder’s second-seeded Central (16-11) team today at 5 p.m. back at Chambers. The winner of that contest can claim the sectional crown with a second victory Friday. However, if the teams split, a third and deciding game will be played Saturday to determine the champion. In Wednesday’s opener, Alexis Christakis tossed a three-hitter, fanning seven and walking three, while the Maroon Knights pushed across three unearned runs against Bishop Doanhue. The Blue Dons tallied two runs each in the second and third innings to open up a four-run lead against the Bishops and Rebecca Stewart did the rest in the circle with six strikeouts and no walks. Melanie Mazur and Jen Nogay each collected run-scoring base hits in the second while an error and Courtney Moss sacrifice fly pushed across two more in the third. Bishop Donahue loaded the bases with consecutive base hits from Megan Rush, Ali Bauer and Taylore Barry in the fifth, and scored a pair of runs to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. The Bishops nearly loaded the bases again with no outs in the sixth, however, a close call at third didn’t go their way and they were held off the board. Stephanie Magnone provided a little insurance with a sacrifice fly RBI in the home half of the sixth. ‘‘Rebecca pitched an excellent game and came to play,’’ Conti said. ‘‘And our defense really stepped up behind our three seniors, Jen Nogay, Paige Good and Maria Gianni. ‘‘We did strand some girls, and I told them the hits would eventually come. But we never gave up and a couple of big ones did finally fall. ‘‘I say all the time that this is probably the best sectional in Class A in the state. I always believe that whoever comes out of here has a chance at state, but you have to be a quality team to move on. ‘‘Wheeling Central is a very good softball team and we are going to have to play our best ball to get out of here.’’ Mele, meanwhile, was nothing but proud of his team. ‘‘They really took advantage of the situations we gave them,’’ he said. ‘‘Madonna is a good team and I hate to see this all end. It is tough to lose two great seniors, but we have had some underclassmen play like veterans this season. ‘‘A coach is never happy to finish 13-15, but hopefully we can build on this and I believe we have a bright future here at Bishop Donhaue.’’ Wheeling Central 4, Bishop Donahue 0 Bishop Donahue 000 000 0 — 0 3 4 Wheeling Central 120 100 x — 4 6 1 BISHOP DONAHUE: Guzek (LP, 7SO, 1BB) and Carpenter; Rush 2-1B; Barry 2B. WHEELING CENTRAL: Christakis (WP, 7K, 3BB) and Carrington; Whorton 2-1B, RBI; Baker 2B, RBI; Helms 1B, RBI; Drnach 2B. Weirton Madonna 5, Bishop Donahue 2 Bishop Donahue 000 020 0 — 2 7 4 Weirton Madonna 022 001 x — 5 10 3 BISHOP DONAHUE: Guzek (LP, 4K, 2BB) and Carpenter; Wolfe 1B, 2B; Scott RBI. WEIRTON MADONNA: Stewart (WP, 6K, 0BB) and Myers; Nogay 1B, 3B, RBI; Myers 2-1B, 3B; Mazur 2-1B, RBI; Lyons 2-1B; Magnone 1B, RBI.
By TRACY WATSON, special to the Herald-Star
WHEELING — With each recording a victory against Bishop Donahue on Wednesday, Wheeling Central and Weirton Madonna have turned the West Virginia Class A Section One softball tournament into a best-of-3 situation. The Maroon Knights took advantage of four Bishops errors to record a 4-0 victory in the first game before the Blue Dons eliminated Donahue with a 5-2 victory in the nightcap at the J.B. Chambers I-470 Sports Complex. Coach Chris Conti’s top-seeded Madonna (15-7) squad will now battle coach Rick Magruder’s second-seeded Central (16-11) team today at 5 p.m. back at Chambers. The winner of that contest can claim the sectional crown with a second victory Friday. However, if the teams split, a third and deciding game will be played Saturday to determine the champion. In Wednesday’s opener, Alexis Christakis tossed a three-hitter, fanning seven and walking three, while the Maroon Knights pushed across three unearned runs against Bishop Doanhue. The Blue Dons tallied two runs each in the second and third innings to open up a four-run lead against the Bishops and Rebecca Stewart did the rest in the circle with six strikeouts and no walks. Melanie Mazur and Jen Nogay each collected run-scoring base hits in the second while an error and Courtney Moss sacrifice fly pushed across two more in the third. Bishop Donahue loaded the bases with consecutive base hits from Megan Rush, Ali Bauer and Taylore Barry in the fifth, and scored a pair of runs to cut the deficit in half at 4-2. The Bishops nearly loaded the bases again with no outs in the sixth, however, a close call at third didn’t go their way and they were held off the board. Stephanie Magnone provided a little insurance with a sacrifice fly RBI in the home half of the sixth. ‘‘Rebecca pitched an excellent game and came to play,’’ Conti said. ‘‘And our defense really stepped up behind our three seniors, Jen Nogay, Paige Good and Maria Gianni. ‘‘We did strand some girls, and I told them the hits would eventually come. But we never gave up and a couple of big ones did finally fall. ‘‘I say all the time that this is probably the best sectional in Class A in the state. I always believe that whoever comes out of here has a chance at state, but you have to be a quality team to move on. ‘‘Wheeling Central is a very good softball team and we are going to have to play our best ball to get out of here.’’ Mele, meanwhile, was nothing but proud of his team. ‘‘They really took advantage of the situations we gave them,’’ he said. ‘‘Madonna is a good team and I hate to see this all end. It is tough to lose two great seniors, but we have had some underclassmen play like veterans this season. ‘‘A coach is never happy to finish 13-15, but hopefully we can build on this and I believe we have a bright future here at Bishop Donhaue.’’ Wheeling Central 4, Bishop Donahue 0 Bishop Donahue 000 000 0 — 0 3 4 Wheeling Central 120 100 x — 4 6 1 BISHOP DONAHUE: Guzek (LP, 7SO, 1BB) and Carpenter; Rush 2-1B; Barry 2B. WHEELING CENTRAL: Christakis (WP, 7K, 3BB) and Carrington; Whorton 2-1B, RBI; Baker 2B, RBI; Helms 1B, RBI; Drnach 2B. Weirton Madonna 5, Bishop Donahue 2 Bishop Donahue 000 020 0 — 2 7 4 Weirton Madonna 022 001 x — 5 10 3 BISHOP DONAHUE: Guzek (LP, 4K, 2BB) and Carpenter; Wolfe 1B, 2B; Scott RBI. WEIRTON MADONNA: Stewart (WP, 6K, 0BB) and Myers; Nogay 1B, 3B, RBI; Myers 2-1B, 3B; Mazur 2-1B, RBI; Lyons 2-1B; Magnone 1B, RBI.
Champs: Lady Dons down Maroon Knights to win sectional title
By NICK BEDWAYWHEELING — Softball, like baseball and most other team sports, is a game of fundamentals and execution. Teams that execute the best generally win, while those that don’t make the plays when they count find themselves on the losing end of the scoreboard. That truly was the case Friday on Lisa’s Field at the Chambers I-470 Complex as Weirton Madonna ended Wheeling Central’s seven-year run as West Virginia Class A Region One, Section One champions by scoring four times in the fifth inning and adding two more in the sixth for a 7-2 victory. The victory gives the Blue Dons back-to-back victories against the Maroon Knights in the double-elimination tournament, and Coach Chris Conti’s club can now look forward to playing in next week’s Region One semifinals. ‘‘This is awesome,’’ blurted out Conti after holding a brief postgame meeting with his ecstatic players. ‘‘When we started out this year, I told everybody this was just a young team and I wasn’t sure what to expect. ‘‘They matured and played very well together. Hopefully, they’ll stay focused and keep on doing it.’’ Again, Madonna (16-7) relied heavily on the strong right arm of senior pitcher Rebecca Stewart and an offense keyed by the lightning quick bat of catcher Sam Myers. Stewart, after pitching the whole way in Thursday’s nine-inning marathon, needed 103 pitches in the title-clinching game. Striking out six and walking two, she refused to buckle despite constantly having to pitch under pressure. Central (16-14) stranded 11 runners in the first six innings before going out in order during the final frame. ‘‘We stranded more runners on base the last two days than we have all year,’’ Central coach Rick Magruder claimed. Conti stressed he wasn’t worried about his ace pitcher having something left in the tank. ‘‘Rebecca’s one of the hardest workers you’ll see during the season and the of-season,’’ he said. ‘‘She pitches a lot every day and it’s really paid off when we need her to be strong late in games.’’ What more can the Blue Dons and their veteran head coach say about the magic bat of senior catcher Sam Myers? In three games during the sectional, Myers went 11-for-13, including 5-for-5 with the winning RBI on Thursday, and 2-for-3 including two more runs batted in plus a walk Friday. Myers went 3-for-4 during Madonna’s first round victory against Bishop Donahue. ‘‘Samantha is very aggressive at the plate. Nothing shakes her up. She just loves to hit the ball,’’ Conti said. Myers had some huge help from her teammates as Paige Good doubled twice, knocking in one run, Jen Nogay had a pair of singles with one RBI and Stephanie Magnone doubled in two teammates during the decisive four-run, fifth-inning rally. Madonna’s ability to execute on offense with a couple of bunts and move runners along with some productive outs also was a major factor, especially because Wheeling Central was unable to do the same. In the field, the Blue Dons turned in some stellar plays, including one Magruder called a ‘‘backbreaker’’ by Madonna shortstop Isabella Anile in the fourth inning. With the score tied 1-1 at that point, the Knights put runners at second and third with two out after Stewart had issued her only two walk. Emily Wizba lined a pitch headed toward left field, but Anile raced to the hole and made an excellent stab to prevent Central from taking a two-run lead. ‘‘Emily hit the heck out of the ball and their shortstop caught it,’’ Magruder said. ‘‘Give them credit, they made the plays and their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off-balance, They also were able to get down the bunts while we didn’t execute our bunt plays at all.’’ Pitching to Myers with runners in scoring position and first base unoccupied again, proved a critical mistake by the Maroon Knights. In the opening inning, she stepped up to plate with two out and Nogay at second after she singled to right and advanced to second on Magnone’s groundout to third base. Myers quickly made Central pay with a single past shortstop that put the Blue Dons up 1-0. The Knights tied it at 1-1 in the top of the third after singles by Rachael Helms and Lauren Baker, followed by a infield throwing error, Madonna’s only miscue. A Central error and hit batter starting the bottom of the fifth opened the flood gates for the Dons against losing pitcher Alexis Christakis. With one out, Nogay slapped a single to center, bringing home the tiebreaking run. Magnone then slashed her double down the left-field line for a 4-1 advantage bringing up Myers again. Her hard single into left enabled Magnone to coast home. Kylie Gray’s double and Baker’s single brought Central to within 5-2 in the top of the sixth but again the Madonna defense bailed out Stewart. Nogay raced into the left center gap and made a slick one-handed catch with two runners aboard. The inning ended when Anile drifted into left field and made a fine catch at her knees, taking away Grace Drnaich’s bid for a base hit. With Brittney Miller pitching in the sixth, Madonna added two insurance runs. Two Central errors and three walks keyed the inning. The only hit was Good’s second double into left field, this one driving in a run. Conti, also the Madonna coach in 2002 the last time the Hancock County school won the Section One title, reminded interviewers that ‘‘Anytime you can beat a Wheeling Central team, it is an accomplishment for your program.’’ Magruder, while disappointed the Maroon Knights’ season came to an early end, had praise for the new sectional champions. ‘‘Give them credit. The way they played the last two days they seemed to want it a little more than we did. I wish Madonna good luck in the regional. Hopefully, we will be back and have another shot at it next year.’’ W.Va. Class A Region One, Section One Final (at Chambers I-470) Madonna 7, Wheeling Central 2 Wheeling Central 001 001 0 — 2 9 4 Weirton Madonna 100 042 x — 7 8 1 WC: Christakis LP (0K, 0BB), Miller (5) (2K, 3BB) and Carrington. Helms 2-1B; Baker 2-1B, RBI; Gray 2B. WM: Stewart WP (6K, 2BB) and Myers. Good 2-2B, RBI; Nogay 2-1B, RBI; Magnone 2B, 2RBI; Myers 2-1B, 2RBI.
By NICK BEDWAYWHEELING — Softball, like baseball and most other team sports, is a game of fundamentals and execution. Teams that execute the best generally win, while those that don’t make the plays when they count find themselves on the losing end of the scoreboard. That truly was the case Friday on Lisa’s Field at the Chambers I-470 Complex as Weirton Madonna ended Wheeling Central’s seven-year run as West Virginia Class A Region One, Section One champions by scoring four times in the fifth inning and adding two more in the sixth for a 7-2 victory. The victory gives the Blue Dons back-to-back victories against the Maroon Knights in the double-elimination tournament, and Coach Chris Conti’s club can now look forward to playing in next week’s Region One semifinals. ‘‘This is awesome,’’ blurted out Conti after holding a brief postgame meeting with his ecstatic players. ‘‘When we started out this year, I told everybody this was just a young team and I wasn’t sure what to expect. ‘‘They matured and played very well together. Hopefully, they’ll stay focused and keep on doing it.’’ Again, Madonna (16-7) relied heavily on the strong right arm of senior pitcher Rebecca Stewart and an offense keyed by the lightning quick bat of catcher Sam Myers. Stewart, after pitching the whole way in Thursday’s nine-inning marathon, needed 103 pitches in the title-clinching game. Striking out six and walking two, she refused to buckle despite constantly having to pitch under pressure. Central (16-14) stranded 11 runners in the first six innings before going out in order during the final frame. ‘‘We stranded more runners on base the last two days than we have all year,’’ Central coach Rick Magruder claimed. Conti stressed he wasn’t worried about his ace pitcher having something left in the tank. ‘‘Rebecca’s one of the hardest workers you’ll see during the season and the of-season,’’ he said. ‘‘She pitches a lot every day and it’s really paid off when we need her to be strong late in games.’’ What more can the Blue Dons and their veteran head coach say about the magic bat of senior catcher Sam Myers? In three games during the sectional, Myers went 11-for-13, including 5-for-5 with the winning RBI on Thursday, and 2-for-3 including two more runs batted in plus a walk Friday. Myers went 3-for-4 during Madonna’s first round victory against Bishop Donahue. ‘‘Samantha is very aggressive at the plate. Nothing shakes her up. She just loves to hit the ball,’’ Conti said. Myers had some huge help from her teammates as Paige Good doubled twice, knocking in one run, Jen Nogay had a pair of singles with one RBI and Stephanie Magnone doubled in two teammates during the decisive four-run, fifth-inning rally. Madonna’s ability to execute on offense with a couple of bunts and move runners along with some productive outs also was a major factor, especially because Wheeling Central was unable to do the same. In the field, the Blue Dons turned in some stellar plays, including one Magruder called a ‘‘backbreaker’’ by Madonna shortstop Isabella Anile in the fourth inning. With the score tied 1-1 at that point, the Knights put runners at second and third with two out after Stewart had issued her only two walk. Emily Wizba lined a pitch headed toward left field, but Anile raced to the hole and made an excellent stab to prevent Central from taking a two-run lead. ‘‘Emily hit the heck out of the ball and their shortstop caught it,’’ Magruder said. ‘‘Give them credit, they made the plays and their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off-balance, They also were able to get down the bunts while we didn’t execute our bunt plays at all.’’ Pitching to Myers with runners in scoring position and first base unoccupied again, proved a critical mistake by the Maroon Knights. In the opening inning, she stepped up to plate with two out and Nogay at second after she singled to right and advanced to second on Magnone’s groundout to third base. Myers quickly made Central pay with a single past shortstop that put the Blue Dons up 1-0. The Knights tied it at 1-1 in the top of the third after singles by Rachael Helms and Lauren Baker, followed by a infield throwing error, Madonna’s only miscue. A Central error and hit batter starting the bottom of the fifth opened the flood gates for the Dons against losing pitcher Alexis Christakis. With one out, Nogay slapped a single to center, bringing home the tiebreaking run. Magnone then slashed her double down the left-field line for a 4-1 advantage bringing up Myers again. Her hard single into left enabled Magnone to coast home. Kylie Gray’s double and Baker’s single brought Central to within 5-2 in the top of the sixth but again the Madonna defense bailed out Stewart. Nogay raced into the left center gap and made a slick one-handed catch with two runners aboard. The inning ended when Anile drifted into left field and made a fine catch at her knees, taking away Grace Drnaich’s bid for a base hit. With Brittney Miller pitching in the sixth, Madonna added two insurance runs. Two Central errors and three walks keyed the inning. The only hit was Good’s second double into left field, this one driving in a run. Conti, also the Madonna coach in 2002 the last time the Hancock County school won the Section One title, reminded interviewers that ‘‘Anytime you can beat a Wheeling Central team, it is an accomplishment for your program.’’ Magruder, while disappointed the Maroon Knights’ season came to an early end, had praise for the new sectional champions. ‘‘Give them credit. The way they played the last two days they seemed to want it a little more than we did. I wish Madonna good luck in the regional. Hopefully, we will be back and have another shot at it next year.’’ W.Va. Class A Region One, Section One Final (at Chambers I-470) Madonna 7, Wheeling Central 2 Wheeling Central 001 001 0 — 2 9 4 Weirton Madonna 100 042 x — 7 8 1 WC: Christakis LP (0K, 0BB), Miller (5) (2K, 3BB) and Carrington. Helms 2-1B; Baker 2-1B, RBI; Gray 2B. WM: Stewart WP (6K, 2BB) and Myers. Good 2-2B, RBI; Nogay 2-1B, RBI; Magnone 2B, 2RBI; Myers 2-1B, 2RBI.
By JIM ELLIOTT
POSTED: May 14, 2010
GLEN DALE - It's been the most popular name in delivery rooms across the country for a few years now.
Today, there isn't a bigger one in Weirton.
Isabella, welcome home.
Isabella Anile's blooping two-run single was all Weirton Madonna needed in recording a 2-1 victory against defending champion Cameron in a West Virginia Class A Region One semifinal Thursday at John Marshall High School.
Anile's two-out looper, which had its path altered by a slight breeze, fell innocently in a triangle of Cameron defenders as pinch runners Emily Hvizdak and Stephanie Magnone raced around to score the only runs pitcher Rebecca Stewart needed.
''I tell them you have put the ball in play,'' Madonna coach Chris Conti said. ''When you put the ball in play, something's going to happen. Something did happen when we put it in play - it was good for us.''
Stewart made that stand as she retired 14 of the last 17 Cameron batters, including the last seven in a row, to send the Blue Dons to the regional final at home Thursday against St. Marys (22-10), which beat Wirt County, 6-1.
Anile was afforded that opportunity, in part, because Cameron coach Mark Witzberger wanted no part of pitching to Madonna catcher Samantha Myers, who destroyed Wheeling Central and Bishop Donahue pitching in the sectional.
She walked all four times she batted.
''If I was a coach in his situation, I think I would walk Samantha, too,'' Conti said. ''Sam's a tough girl, probably one of the best hitters in this valley, I think. His strategy worked there for a while. I told the girls behind her, 'you have to pick up the slack for Sam.' ''
For his part, Witzberger said he'd do it again, not wanting to forget a miscue earlier in the inning that would have had the Cameron defenders in the dugout before either Myers or Anile made it to the bat rack.
Hitting just ahead of Myers, Magnone reached safely when first baseman Audrey Bryan prematurely pulled her foot off the bag on a throw from shortstop on what would have otherwise been the third out. Two batters later, Magnone scored the winning run.
''I don't have any problems with that decision whatsoever,'' Witzberger said of walking Myers. ''If everything happens the way it's supposed to, we'd be celebrating right now instead of wondering what happened. ''
Cameron started the scoring in the bottom of the first when leadoff hitter Kelsey Allen ripped Stewart's first pitch to the wall in left field for a double. Morgan Hughes dropped a double down the right-field line to bring her in one batter later.
Madonna, though it didn't score until the fifth, was unfazed.
''They didn't get shook up,'' Conti said. ''We all got together there. They were relaxed, they knew they could fight back and they did.''
The loss spoiled another fine outing from Cameron sophomore pitcher Tara Paczewski, who yielded four hits and struck out eight.
''To me, it looked like Tara had her best stuff of the season,'' Witzberger said. ''We didn't score enough runs obviously. Any coach will tell you games like this come down to walks and errors. He who blinks first. Madonna came in fired up, ready to play. I give Chris and those girls all the credit in the world, they did everything they had to do.''
-- Jim Elliott
Congratulations to Samantha Myers for being named First Team All-State, Rebecca Stewart for being named Second Team All-State, and Isabella Anile, Paige Good, and Jen Nogay for being named Honorable Mention. Way to go Ladies!
Congratulations to Samantha Myers for being named the Captain of the All-Valley Softball Team. Congratulations to Rebecca Stewart for being named Third Team All-Valley, Stephanie Magnone and Paige Good for being named Special Honorable Mention, and Jen Nogay, Isabella Anile, and Sara Lyons for being namged Honorable Mention. Great job Ladies!
By MIKE MAtHISON, sports editorWEIRTON — It seems like Paige Good has had three homes during her four years at Madonna High School. Besides her home where she spends time with her family and lays her head at night and her career as a Blue Dons student-athlete, she has also spent an inordinate amount of time at Mainstream Physical Therapy with the staff and owner John Kirlangitis. Good has now found a new home as the Madonna graduate will continue her academic and athletic careers at Carlow University, where she will major in nursing and play softball. “I really hope they (Carlow) allow me to continue to work with him, to be honest,” Good said of Kirlangitis. “He is great and the staff has just been wonderful. I pretty much have a cot there. He’s an amazing therapist. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without him or the staff. They’re like my second family.” She played volleyball, basketball and softball as a freshman and added golf as a sophomore. By the time her senior year came, it was softball only. When Good spent time on the disabled list, it wasn’t because of a small thing. She dislocated her shoulder on Dec, 26, 2008, going up for a lay-up in a basketball game against Wheeling Central. that injury subsequently ended her basketball life. After having surgery eight months later to repair it, after softball season and summer golf tournaments, she was on the mend when she was involved in a car accident in November, when her car hit black ice and rolled again and again. She spent four years at Mainstream getting her shoulder, knees and back worked on. “Paige is a very coachable player,” said Madonna softball coach Chris Conti. “She’ll give you everything she has. She’ll be great for their program. She had some injuries this year and I don’t think people were able to see what a good player she is. “I think once she gets there and is 100 percent healthy, I think Carlow is going to get a very good softball player. I’d say she played the softball season at about 70 percent healthy and she did an excellent job at that 70 percent. I would really like to see her play at 100 percent in college. “She’s a tough cookie.” “I’ve always wanted to play sports in college,” she said. “First, it was my dream to play basketball. But, that didn’t work out.” Good had been accepted to Carlow University and its nursing program in November. “My parents told me I should really think about playing softball since I was going to Carlow and they have a softball team,” said Good. “So, we went and watched a game.” Carlow finished the season 15-21 with one senior and two juniors. “With us being such a young team we expect Paige to be able step right in and contribute to last year’s freshman class to help being part of the building block for the future of Carlow University softball,” said assistant softball coach Jim Walker. “I’ve been interested in working in the medical field,” Good said. “I wanted to be a doctor for a long time, but I realized that I wanted to be more one-on-one with the patient and touch their lives. I want to be the one who helps them through everything. “I looked at a lot of schools and their nursing program is amazing. It’s in Pittsburgh, which has nine local hospitals. Carlow has a great facility. It’s just an amazing place. When you set out to find the school you are going to spend the next four years at, it has to feel right. As soon as I walked on that campus I knew that’s where I wanted to be. Their class size is great. “They are a Catholic university and I really wanted to stay within my faith. I was worried that I would fall away from my faith whenever I went to school. But, I think that Carlow will definitely help me grow in my faith. “I think I’m ready for the challenge of everything college has to offer. I think I’ll be able to juggle everything and do what I have to do to be successful.” Also heading to Carlow is former Madonna standout Meghan Dulaney. Just completing their freshman seasons with the Celtics are former Catholic Central athletes Kelly and Melissa Costantini. “I want to thank my family for everything they have done for me,” Good said. “They’ve never let me lose that determination or drive. They’ve never missed a game and neither has my brother Phillip. I can’t tell you how much money my parents have spent driving me around all over the place. I am thankful for that. “I want to thank my teammates. We’ve had crazy chemistry that you can’t really get that often. You care for them and they become like your sisters. You want to win every game and be there for each other. You want to win for yourself, but more importantly you want to win for your teammates. “I want to thank all my friends for everything and the crew at Mainstream, especially John. I especially want to thank Mr. Conti. The last four years have been great with him. It’s been wonderful to play softball for him. We have a great relationship.”
Madonna catcher named 1st Team All-West Virginia
By RANDALL JETT, special to the Herald-Star
CLARKSBURG — Cameron pitcher Tara Paczewski was one of eight returning first-team selections when the 2010 Class A all-state softball first team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association was announced Tuesday. Paczewski went 21-5 with 245 strikeouts for the Dragons, giving her more than 40 victories in her first two prep seasons. Paczewski’s teammate, junior shortstop Kelsey Allen, who hit 416 with nine home runs and 24 RBI, also made the first team, as did Weirton Madonna catcher Samantha Myers. Myers hit .570 with five home runs and 40 RBI in leading the Blue Dons to the regional final as the catcher. Topping the list as captain of the first team is Man’s Marlena Frye. The senior pitcher led the Hillbillies to state titles in her junior and sophomore seasons and to a runner-up finish to South Harrison this season. This is the West Virginia State signee’s second consecutive year being named as captain of the first team. She led Man to a 22-7 record. “Softball always starts with the pitcher,” Man coach Randy Epperly said. “(Frye) has got the ball in her hand to start every play. That position is going to stand out anyway, but more than that, she’s been big for us.” Frye finished her pitching career with a one-hit, 6-0 shutout victory. Joining her on the first team are three players, Tasha Hall, Alex McAtee and Jessica Puddister, off South Harrison’s 25-9 state championship squad. “They all meant a lot to our team,” South Harrison coach Karson Richards said. “Of course, Alex is a senior and we’ll be losing her, but she played real well through the season and came up big at the state tournament.” Hall was a junior pitcher and, like Frye, another three-time first-team selection. She finished the year with 224 strikeouts and 57 walks in 173 1-3 innings of work. Hall gave up 58 runs and 89 hits en route to a 20-7 season with one save on the mound. She was batting better than .333 heading into the state tournament. “Tasha pitched really well,” Richards said. “She came through when we needed her to.” Hall tossed a no-hitter against Fayetteville in the opening round of the state tournament and scored the winning run against Man to earn the Hawks their first state title in school history. McAtee was a versatile player for the Hawks, playing some at catcher and third base before settling in at shortstop down the stretch. She hit .316 for the season and was second-team captain her junior season. The Hawks’ freshman first baseman, Puddister, was the surprise of the season. She led the Hawks in hitting during the season, batting .353 with 19 RBI, and Puddister didn’t slow down in the state tournament, hitting .583 with three RBI. Charleston Catholic’s Ally Hoyer and Marty Kay Wilcox, Wirt County’s Emma Cox, Fayetteville’s Shandi Myles and Man’s Paige Stacy round out the returning first-team selections. Hoyer, a junior pitcher, went 13-9 with 115 strikeouts and batted .416 with 26 RBI, while Wilcox, a junior shortstop, hit .527 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI for the Irish. Cox continued to lead the Tigers from the mound in her senior season, while Myles hit .526 and committed only two errors in the field at shortstop for the Pirates in her final season. Stacy was a power-hitting, senior outfielder for the Hillbillies. Buffalo’s Tara Mays at utility, Notre Dame’s Maryrose Burns and Wahama’s Taylor Hysell at outfielder and Meadow Bridge’s Cayli Bolen at catcher joined McAtee in moving up from last year’s second team. Mays hit .433, Burns batted .544 with 32 stolen bases, Hysell hit .411 with 23 RBI and Bolen batted .348 with 60 stolen bases. First-time selections included St. Marys’ Abby Fetty and Cameron’s Allen in the infield, Madonna’s Myers at catcher and East Hardy’s Ashley Dove at utility. Fetty hit .413 with five home run and Dove .492 with 33 RBI. The second team consisted of pitchers Morgan Wheeler of Fayetteville, Rebecca Stewart of Madonna, Tara Hanson of Trinity, Mandy Cokeley of St. Marys and Taylor Zuber of Moorefield; infielders Hannah Lloyd of Buffalo, Morgan Hughes of Cameron, Samantha Elkins of Fayetteville, Emily Weiford of Notre Dame and Whitney Sandy of Williamstown; outfielders Cody Evick of Pendleton County, Morgan Fuenty of St. Marys and Danielle Varner of Clay-Battelle; catchers Cassie Campbell of Bishop Donohue and Ashlie LaFalce of Doddridge County; and utility players Tara Havens of Montcalm, Marisa Johnson of Big Creek and captain Sara Sang of Huntington St. Joseph.
By RANDALL JETT, special to the Herald-Star
CLARKSBURG — Cameron pitcher Tara Paczewski was one of eight returning first-team selections when the 2010 Class A all-state softball first team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association was announced Tuesday. Paczewski went 21-5 with 245 strikeouts for the Dragons, giving her more than 40 victories in her first two prep seasons. Paczewski’s teammate, junior shortstop Kelsey Allen, who hit 416 with nine home runs and 24 RBI, also made the first team, as did Weirton Madonna catcher Samantha Myers. Myers hit .570 with five home runs and 40 RBI in leading the Blue Dons to the regional final as the catcher. Topping the list as captain of the first team is Man’s Marlena Frye. The senior pitcher led the Hillbillies to state titles in her junior and sophomore seasons and to a runner-up finish to South Harrison this season. This is the West Virginia State signee’s second consecutive year being named as captain of the first team. She led Man to a 22-7 record. “Softball always starts with the pitcher,” Man coach Randy Epperly said. “(Frye) has got the ball in her hand to start every play. That position is going to stand out anyway, but more than that, she’s been big for us.” Frye finished her pitching career with a one-hit, 6-0 shutout victory. Joining her on the first team are three players, Tasha Hall, Alex McAtee and Jessica Puddister, off South Harrison’s 25-9 state championship squad. “They all meant a lot to our team,” South Harrison coach Karson Richards said. “Of course, Alex is a senior and we’ll be losing her, but she played real well through the season and came up big at the state tournament.” Hall was a junior pitcher and, like Frye, another three-time first-team selection. She finished the year with 224 strikeouts and 57 walks in 173 1-3 innings of work. Hall gave up 58 runs and 89 hits en route to a 20-7 season with one save on the mound. She was batting better than .333 heading into the state tournament. “Tasha pitched really well,” Richards said. “She came through when we needed her to.” Hall tossed a no-hitter against Fayetteville in the opening round of the state tournament and scored the winning run against Man to earn the Hawks their first state title in school history. McAtee was a versatile player for the Hawks, playing some at catcher and third base before settling in at shortstop down the stretch. She hit .316 for the season and was second-team captain her junior season. The Hawks’ freshman first baseman, Puddister, was the surprise of the season. She led the Hawks in hitting during the season, batting .353 with 19 RBI, and Puddister didn’t slow down in the state tournament, hitting .583 with three RBI. Charleston Catholic’s Ally Hoyer and Marty Kay Wilcox, Wirt County’s Emma Cox, Fayetteville’s Shandi Myles and Man’s Paige Stacy round out the returning first-team selections. Hoyer, a junior pitcher, went 13-9 with 115 strikeouts and batted .416 with 26 RBI, while Wilcox, a junior shortstop, hit .527 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI for the Irish. Cox continued to lead the Tigers from the mound in her senior season, while Myles hit .526 and committed only two errors in the field at shortstop for the Pirates in her final season. Stacy was a power-hitting, senior outfielder for the Hillbillies. Buffalo’s Tara Mays at utility, Notre Dame’s Maryrose Burns and Wahama’s Taylor Hysell at outfielder and Meadow Bridge’s Cayli Bolen at catcher joined McAtee in moving up from last year’s second team. Mays hit .433, Burns batted .544 with 32 stolen bases, Hysell hit .411 with 23 RBI and Bolen batted .348 with 60 stolen bases. First-time selections included St. Marys’ Abby Fetty and Cameron’s Allen in the infield, Madonna’s Myers at catcher and East Hardy’s Ashley Dove at utility. Fetty hit .413 with five home run and Dove .492 with 33 RBI. The second team consisted of pitchers Morgan Wheeler of Fayetteville, Rebecca Stewart of Madonna, Tara Hanson of Trinity, Mandy Cokeley of St. Marys and Taylor Zuber of Moorefield; infielders Hannah Lloyd of Buffalo, Morgan Hughes of Cameron, Samantha Elkins of Fayetteville, Emily Weiford of Notre Dame and Whitney Sandy of Williamstown; outfielders Cody Evick of Pendleton County, Morgan Fuenty of St. Marys and Danielle Varner of Clay-Battelle; catchers Cassie Campbell of Bishop Donohue and Ashlie LaFalce of Doddridge County; and utility players Tara Havens of Montcalm, Marisa Johnson of Big Creek and captain Sara Sang of Huntington St. Joseph.
January 20, 2011 - By MIKE MATHISON, sports editor
WEIRTON - Samantha Myers is happy it's over. The Weirton Madonna senior has signed a letter of intent to play softball at Shepherd University. "I completely happy this is done," she said. "I didn't want to have to deal with this during the season. I'm glad it's out of the way and I can just play softball this season. I didn't want to worry about colleges looking at me, talking to them and having to make a decision during the season. "I wanted to play stress free and I can do that now. "I'm really looking forward to our season. We went far last year and I think we can go to states this year. I know we still have to play the season, but I like the opportunity we will have this season. "I can't wait for our season. I think we have a great team." Madonna lost at home in the regional final last year to St. Marys. The Rams, who did not have a senior on the roster a year ago, went 36-16, losing to California, Pa., in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament. They were 18-6 in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference under head coach Leslie Lopez, who enters her fourth year. "They have a beautiful campus, I loved it down there," said the returning first-team West Virginia Class A all-state catcher. "They have a great program. The coaches and everyone on the team are nice. Everything that I want to go to school is right there. I don't have to switch schools." Myers said she eventually wants to get into pharmacy. "I think I'll go into a pre-pharmacy program or bio-medical chemistry," she said. "A lot of schools didn't have exactly what I wanted. So, I would have had to apply to another school once I got a chemistry degree, or something of that nature. "With Shepherd, I can go directly to WVU and study pharmacy." While Myers has spent her high school career behind the plate and mask, she played other positions during summer travel ball. "It doesn't really matter to me where I'll play, I like playing everywhere," she said. "Wherever they need me, I'm willing to play. I'd love to stay at catcher, but if I can't, I just want to play." "Samantha has been a great leader for us," said Blue Dons softball coach Chris Conti. "She's going to the next level because of her work ethic. "I don't think a lot of kids understand how important travel ball is, especially if you want to go to that next level. I know a lot of kids don't have the time or money, but it's really important to play summer ball. "Travel ball makes you better, makes your skills better because you are playing against much better competition. "There's nothing wrong with the competition we have here, but you're facing people of your caliber during the summer." "That's where coach Lopez picked up on Sam. She watched Sam play travel ball. Every game she watched, Sam was playing a different position." Myers played travel ball for the Pittsburgh Spirit during the summer. "Travel ball has been a huge help," she admitted. "The difference between seeing high school pitchers from around here, versus people from different states, it huge. The other pitchers are so much faster. You can tell they train a lot more than some of the girls around here. "Some of the girls around here just play to play. But, the girls in travel ball want to do something. I love playing travel ball. "These girls go 7, 8 miles per hour faster, have more movement on the ball, more pitches, it's just a lot harder. It's really helped me in the long run. "In travel ball this year I played outfield and second base. There was another catcher. It was nice not playing catcher because it helped my shoulder heal over the summer. "I really liked playing outfield, it was fun. I had to get the hang of it at first. I was used to my catcher's mitt, I almost wanted to take that into left field with me. "I learned how to judge the ball. For the first few games, I had no idea what I was doing. I was just hoping I caught the ball." Did she? "At first, no," she said with a laugh. "Eventually, I got the hang of it. I liked the ones that were hit straight to me." Myers knows she did not reach this point alone. "I want to thank Mr. Conti and our team," she said. "I want to thank my parents for all their support, for putting me in travel ball all these years, paying the money they had to pay. "Plus, the coaching staff here at Madonna has done so much for me." (Mathison can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com)
SAFE AT HOME — Madonna’s Melanie Mazur slides under the tag of Oak Glen pitcher Marissa Murray during the fourth inning of Monday’s 8-0 win by the Blue Dons at Starvaggi Park. Looking on is Blue Dons teammate Courtney Moss.-- Mike Mathison
March 22, 2011 - By MIKE MATHISON, sports editor
WEIRTON - One game into the season, and the new run-rule in softball took effect.
Weirton Madonna scored two times in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish an 8-0 victory over visiting Oak Glen at Starvaggi Park Monday afternoon.
It was the opener for both teams under 70-degree weather.
"I can't remember the last time we had a beautiful opening day like this," said Blue Dons veteran coach Chris Conti. "Everyone was a little bit nervous to start out the game. But, everyone calmed down and I thought they played well together."
Senior Rebecca Stewart captured the win on the mound, striking out five and walking a pair.
She allowed singles to Jordan Cunningham and Casey Patterson.
"I thought we made decent contact against their pitcher," said Oak Glen coach Michelle McHaffie. "She is an experienced pitcher, where both of our pitchers our sophomores."
Marissa Murray pitched the first four innings and took the loss. She fanned four and walked one.
Cunningham came in the final two innings.
"Marissa pitched a few games last year on the varsity level, but it's still pretty new to both of them," said McHaffie. "I thought they both did a good job."
Madonna scored twice in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Courtney Moss singled and scored on Ashley Jones' double. Jones came home on Stephanie Magnone's single.
The Blue Dons touched the dish two more times in the third.
Jones reached on a three-base error and trotted home on Magnone's triple. Magnone scored on Isabella Anile's groundout.
Melanie Mazur and Stewart singled to open the fourth and Mazur eventually scored on a wild pitch. Samantha Myers singled and was brought home with Anile's triple in the fifth.
Sara Lyons singled to start the sixth, moved to third on an error and scored on a wile pitch. Mazur walked and eventually touched the plate to halt the game.
"We made too many errors," said McHaffie. "The girls will learn from what went wrong and we look to keep growing and keep getting better."
Anile and Magnone each had a pair of RBI's for the winners, who host Wheeling Central at 5 p.m. today.
"The girls have their goals for the season," said Conti. "It was just nice to get going. The girls were excited to start playing. They were excited to start the season, just to see how well they can do."
Madonna 8, Oak Glen 0
Oak Glen 000 000 0 2 4
Madonna 202 112 8 10 2
OAK GLEN (0-1): Murray (LP, 4K, 1BB), Cunningham (5th, 0K, 1BB) and Behanna; Cunningham 1B; Patterson 1B.
MADONNA (1-0): Stewart (WP, 5K, 2BB) and Myers; Moss 1B; Myers 1B; Jones 2B, RBI; Magnone 1B, 3B, 2RBI; Anile 3B, 2RBI; Lyons 1B; Mazur 1B; Stewart 2-1B; Hvizdak 1B, RBI.
March 23, 2011 - By BRENT SOBLESKI, sports writer
WEIRTON - It didn't feel like softball season quite yet when Madonna hosted Wheeling Central at Starvaggi Field Tuesday.
Sara Lyons then strode to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning as the game was tied at zero and a teammate was standing at second base. She battled her way through a tough pitcher's count. Finally, the first baseman laced a game-winning walkoff single to give the Lady Dons a 1-0 victory and a quick 2-0 start to their season.
"She is a good hitter," Madonna coach Chris Conti stated. "She may be seventh in our lineup, but I know she can hit the ball. I can count on her to come through in the clutch. Today, she did. She is a solid player, and today it paid off."
A pitchers' duel dictated the early stages of the chilly afternoon ball game.
Rebecca Stewart was on the mound once again for the Dons. The senior pitched all seven innings for her second win of the season. She struck out five and walked two batters during the effort.
She was matched by Alexis Christakis' six strikeouts with only a single walk for the Maroon Knights.
"I think the timing is off a little bit," said Conti. "The girls have to get to the pitching right now. It's just a timing thing right now."
Early season jitters were apparent as the timing of each team was still lacking. When batters did make contact, the aluminum sticks rattled if the ball did not hit the sweet spot.
"I think it's just early in the year," Wheeling Central coach Ambrose Bober mentioned. "Both threw well. They didn't look as sharp as they probably will a few weeks from now."
Wheeling Central outhit the Dons 5-1 until the final inning, but the Maroon Knights left all stranded with one base runner being left on third.
"I thought it was a pretty good game," said Bober. "Both teams played well defensively. There weren't a lot of hits. We took a couple chances, but they have a nice team."
The bottom of the seventh inning opened with Ashley Jones, the team's third basemen, legging out her second single of the ball game. It was a weakly hit grounder, but Jones found her way on base.
Stephanie Magnone attempted to sacrifice bunt Jones to second base but quickly fell behind in the count before popping up the first out of the inning. Isabella Anile then struck out.
Jones decided to take the game into her hands by stealing second base during Anile's at-bat.
It was now Lyons time to shine. She fouled off two balls back into the cage. The count was 2-2 with two outs and a runner on second base. The pitch came in high and she roped the ball into right center field as Jones rumbled her way past home for the winning score.
"A 2-0 start is great for the girls," Conti exclaimed. "I'm happy for the girls. They are playing well together. They are forming together, and that's the main thing. The more you win, the more you form together and that's what we're doing right now."
Madonna 1, Wheeling Central 0
Wheeling Central 000 000 0 5 0
Madonna 000 000 1 3 0
WHEELING CENTRAL (0-1): Christakis (LP, 6K, 1BB) and Henry; Robbins 2 1B; Griffin 1B; Henry 1B; Christakis 1B.
MADONNA (2-0): Stewart (WP, 5K, 2BB) and Myers; Jones 2 1B; Lyons 2B.
-- Brent Sobleski
March 30, 2011 - By BRENT SOBLESKI, sports writer
WEIRTON - Hard work, dedication and talent are requirements to reach certain career milestones in the coaching profession. Chris Conti has been blessed with all three while serving as Madonna's head softball coach. Conti reached 200 career wins Tuesday as his Lady Dons defeated East Liverpool 9-1 at Starvaggi Field.
"It's exciting," Conti said after enjoying a moment at second base with his team once the game was complete. "I had some great players over the last 19 years. I didn't do it. The players did it. I've had some great players. I've had Sam Myers and Rebecca (Stewart) with me for four years. They've won 50 games for me in that time.
"It's a great accomplishment for me, my team and Madonna High School. It's a good feeling."
Despite laying the onus at the feet of his players, Conti did take a few seconds to let his guard down.
"It's nice," he finally admitted. "You set your goals. When I got to my 100th win, I thought I would stick around and, maybe, go for 200. I did, and I had some great teams. In the past, those teams got me my wins. It's a good feeling. I'm just proud of the girls and the team."
Before the team could celebrate the eventual accomplishment of its mentor, Madonna had the Potters in its way.
The Blue Dons were off and running early before closing the game out due to an eight-run mercy ruling.
During the opening inning, Sara Lyons legged out a triple which brought in three runs. Previously, Stephanie Magnone brought a runner home as she hit into a fielder's choice. Melanie Mazur completed the 5-run initial frame with a single to bring Lyons home.
After the Dons batted through the lineup in the first inning, Samantha Myers was up to the plate again and reached via an East Liverpool error. Magnone doubled to bring Myers past the plate.
Madonna had built a 6-0 advantage as the teams entered the third inning.
A series of errors and mistakes allowed the Potters to score their only run.
"We had some mistakes here and there," said Conti.
"We haven't been outside all that much. We haven't had the good weather. We haven't been in the dirt. We had some games rained out, but I think it will come. This is a good group of girls. They're good athletes and good softball players. The more they play, the better they will get."
The Lady Dons' finished the game by adding two runs in the fifth inning and one more in the sixth.
Madonna travels north to face Oak Glen today.
Madonna 9, East Liverpool 1.
East Liverpool 001 000 - 1 3 1
Madonna 510 021 - 9 15 1
EAST LIVERPOOL: Davis (LP, K, 4BB) and George; Clutter 1B; Accuraguri 1B; George 1B.
MADONNA: Quattrochi (WP, 6K, 1BB) and Myers; Myers 1B, 2B, RBI; Moss 1B, RBI; Jones 1B, RBI; Magnone 1B, 2B; Anile 1B, 2B; Lyons 3B 3RBI; Traffichini 1B; Mazur 1B; Quattrochi 1B, Ferrari 1B; Hinkle 1B, 1RBI; Paul 1B.
WEIRTON - According to Madonna's softball coach Chris Conti, his team has yet to hit its stride. The Lady Don's 11-1 victory Saturday over Weir to receive the city championship trophy sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Weirton lays claim to the contrary.
"It's good for the program," Madonna coach Chris Conti said. "I'm happy for the girls to be city champions. It's one of those days that I'm grateful to Mr. (Mike) Greene, because the game was supposed to be played on our field which was really muddy. They got their field ready so we could play here, and I really appreciate it.
"When you play a city championship, you are there to win the game. Meanwhile, we are all friends. We all live here together. We got the game in today, which is this is supposed to be about. We may not be enemies, but we are competing against each other.
"It does mean a lot to the girls. It's a little bit of bragging rights for them."
It took five innings for the mercy rule to come into effect as Madonna improved to 6-0. The Dons next opponent is the Lindsy Cadets 5:30 p.m. Monday at Starvaggi Field.
"No," Conti stated when asked if his team was clicking on all cylandirs. "We're not getting the reps every day, although they are playing well. They're hitting the ball, which I'm glad. We're playing good defense. Our defense is playing real well. Rebecca (Stewart) is pitching very well. She's pitching fantastic games. When you pitch and have a good defense behind you, she can throw her game."
Madonna scored three runs in the first inning. Samantha Myers opened Madonna's day at the plate with a double. Courtney Moss singled and then stole second base after Myers had moved to third base. A single by Ashley Jones brought both home to begin Madonna's scoring blitz 2-0. Isabelle Anile batted Jones home with a single after Stephanie Magnone moved her to second base on a fielder's choice. After the first inning, Madonna had jumped out to a 3-0 advantage.
Four runs were scored in the bottom of the second by the Dons.
Letti Quattrochi blasted a leadoff triple. Quattrochi also doubled and singled before play was finalized. Emily Hvizdak then singled and Madonna was leading 5-0. An error by Weir allowed three more runs to score before the inning ended in the Dons' favor 8-0.
Weir's lone run came in the fourth inning. Taylor Gianangeli walked and reached second due to a wild pitch. Weir's catcher eventually scored after getting to third base and a fielder's choice near the foul line was rung off the head of a Red Rider base runner.
"It was a big game, and I truly believe only one group showed up to play in it," Weir's skipper Jason Angle lamented. "I'm not happy with our effort.
"I saw some good signs with this group against Harrison (Central) recently where we had a lot of opportunities to win the game. Today, we lost our focus and concentration."
"My hats off to Madonna. Chris (Conti) does a wonderful job with those girls and they came ready to play. They are good, and they will do well this season."
Myers contributed two RBI's in Madonna' final two frames of the game. Moss and Jones also batted run's in to finalize the game's scoring 11-1.
Weir is back in action Monday against the undefeated Indian Creek Redskins.
Madonna 11, Weir 1
Weir 000 10 - 1 2 3
Madonna 341 3x - 11 13 0
WEIR (3-3): DiBacco (LP, 4K, 3B) and Gianangeli; McLaughlin 1B; Rasicci 1B.
MADONNA (6-0): Stewart (WP, 2K, 2B) and Myers. Myers 2B, 2 1B, 2RBI; Moss 3 1B, RBI; Jones 2 1B, 3RBI; Anile 1B, RBI; Quattrochi 3B, 2B, 1B; Hvizdak 1B, RBI.
Madonna upends BulldogsApril 19, 2011
Weirton Daily Times
Madonna wins in nine
WEIRTON - It took nine innings for the game between Madonna and Bridgeport to be settled at Starvaggi Field Monday. The Blue Don's softball squad emerged the victors with a 4-3 win.
In the bottom of the ninth, Emalee Hvizdak doubled to bring the winning run past the plate as Madonna claimed its 10th straight win. Stephanie Magnone also contributed a two-bagger.
Rebecca Stewart was on the mound and contributed eight strikeouts during her performance.
Madonna meets Toronto today at Starvaggi Field.
Madonna 4, Bridgeport 3.
Bridgeport 000 003 000 - 3 9 0
Madonna 200 010 001 - 4 7 5
BRIDGEPORT: Hadzina (LP, 4K, 4BB) and Myers. Bowers 2-1B, 2RBI.
MADONNA (10-0): Stewart (WP, 8K, 5BB) and Meyers. Magone 2B; Hvizdak 2B, RBI; Meyers 1B; Moss 1B; Lyons 1B; Mazur 1B; Quattrochi 1B.
Weirton Daily Times
Madonna wins in nine
WEIRTON - It took nine innings for the game between Madonna and Bridgeport to be settled at Starvaggi Field Monday. The Blue Don's softball squad emerged the victors with a 4-3 win.
In the bottom of the ninth, Emalee Hvizdak doubled to bring the winning run past the plate as Madonna claimed its 10th straight win. Stephanie Magnone also contributed a two-bagger.
Rebecca Stewart was on the mound and contributed eight strikeouts during her performance.
Madonna meets Toronto today at Starvaggi Field.
Madonna 4, Bridgeport 3.
Bridgeport 000 003 000 - 3 9 0
Madonna 200 010 001 - 4 7 5
BRIDGEPORT: Hadzina (LP, 4K, 4BB) and Myers. Bowers 2-1B, 2RBI.
MADONNA (10-0): Stewart (WP, 8K, 5BB) and Meyers. Magone 2B; Hvizdak 2B, RBI; Meyers 1B; Moss 1B; Lyons 1B; Mazur 1B; Quattrochi 1B.
Madonna remains undefeatedApril 22, 2011
Weirton Daily Times
TORONTO - The Madonna softball team won 11-1 in five innings Thursday against Toronto to improve its record to 11-0.
At the plate, Sam Myers blasted a triple for Madonna. Courtney Moss added three singles. Ashley Jones singled in two runs.
Rebecca Stewart was on the mound as the winning pitcher with five strikeouts.
Toronto is at Beallsville Saturday to play a doubleheader.
Madonna 11, Toronto 1
Madonna 182 01 - 11 11 1
Toronto 100 00 - 3 3 1
MADONNA (11-0): Stewart (WP, 5K, 0BB) and Myers. Moss 3-1B, RBI; Myers 3B; Jones 1B, 2RBI; Hvizdak 3-1B.
Toronto (7-5): Horne (LP, 2K, 1BB) and Stoica. Sears 1B; Blanton 1B; Ellison 1B.
Weirton Daily Times
TORONTO - The Madonna softball team won 11-1 in five innings Thursday against Toronto to improve its record to 11-0.
At the plate, Sam Myers blasted a triple for Madonna. Courtney Moss added three singles. Ashley Jones singled in two runs.
Rebecca Stewart was on the mound as the winning pitcher with five strikeouts.
Toronto is at Beallsville Saturday to play a doubleheader.
Madonna 11, Toronto 1
Madonna 182 01 - 11 11 1
Toronto 100 00 - 3 3 1
MADONNA (11-0): Stewart (WP, 5K, 0BB) and Myers. Moss 3-1B, RBI; Myers 3B; Jones 1B, 2RBI; Hvizdak 3-1B.
Toronto (7-5): Horne (LP, 2K, 1BB) and Stoica. Sears 1B; Blanton 1B; Ellison 1B.
Madonna will play for Class A crownApril 28, 2011
Weirton Daily Times
WHEELING - Weirton Madonna Coach Chris Conti did not know what to expect from his Lady Blue Dons softball team entering the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A Tournament.
After all, like most teams, the Hancock County squad has played a limited amount of games due to the heavy spring rains.
However, Madonna had swept through its first 11 outings and with the help of Rebecca Stewart, Courtney Moss, Ashley Jones and a slew of others, the Blue Dons wasted little time putting their coach at ease Wednesday night.
Stewart allowed only one hit, that coming with two outs in the fifth and final inning, Moss collected three infield singles and Jones chased home four runs as Weirton Madonna scored early and often in a 12-0 rout of Toronto in a Class A semifinal contest played mostly in a driving rain at Lisa's Field.
Conti's 12-0 record squad will face the winner of today's other semifinal between Cameron and Bellaire St. John Saturday for the small-school title. The Dons lost to the Fighting Irish in last year's semifinals and the previous year to the Dragons in the finals.
"We will have to wait until Friday to see who we will play, but they are two great teams and I know we will have our hands full either way," Conti said. "But we are just so excited to be back in this position. The OVAC does a great job and this is a whole lot of fun for the girls."
Wednesday night's onslaught began in the bottom of the first when Courtney Moss, who had made a nice running catch in right to end the top of the frame, beat out an infield single.
Catcher Sam Myers singled to left with Moss going to third and Myers ending up at second on the throw. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch for a 1-0 score. Myers then crossed the dish on a one-out Ashley Jones run-scoring sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Madonna added to the Red Knights' misery in the second with a one-out, two-run single to center to make it 4-0. Myers, who was intentionally walked, then scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 reading.
Stephanie Magnone contributed by ripped a run-scoring triple to deep left-center field and scored to make it 7-0 on Isabella Anile's RBI fielder's choice. The Dons managed to send eight to the plate in the inning, pushing across five runs.
Madonna added three more in the third, including Moss' third infield single, and first RBI, of the contest and another Jones sacrifice fly, which chased home her fourth run.
The hosts took advantage of a couple of Toronto miscues for the final margin in the bottom of the fourth.
It appeared Stewart was going to finish with a no-hitter, however, Kelsey Ellison was credited with an infield single after being ruled safe at first on a bang-bang play. Stewart finished with nine strikeouts, walking one and hitting a batter.
"This was just a great effort by the girls (Wednesday)," Conti added. "We have not been able to get into any kind of rhythm, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen coming in.
"But I am very proud of how we responded and played so well. We hit the ball very hard and Rebecca pitched excellent. We were just able to get some key hits in big situations. If we play like that again on Saturday we might come home with a "W"."
Madonna 12, Toronto 0
Toronto 000 00 - 0 1 3
Madonna 253 2x - 12 11 0
TORONTO: Sears (LP, 3K, 4BB) and Stoica. Ellison 1B.
MADONNA: Stewart (WP, 9K, 1BB) and Myers. Moss 3-1B, RBI; Myers 2-1B; Jones 1B, 4RBI; Magnone 3B, RBI; Lyons 2-1B.
Weirton Daily Times
WHEELING - Weirton Madonna Coach Chris Conti did not know what to expect from his Lady Blue Dons softball team entering the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A Tournament.
After all, like most teams, the Hancock County squad has played a limited amount of games due to the heavy spring rains.
However, Madonna had swept through its first 11 outings and with the help of Rebecca Stewart, Courtney Moss, Ashley Jones and a slew of others, the Blue Dons wasted little time putting their coach at ease Wednesday night.
Stewart allowed only one hit, that coming with two outs in the fifth and final inning, Moss collected three infield singles and Jones chased home four runs as Weirton Madonna scored early and often in a 12-0 rout of Toronto in a Class A semifinal contest played mostly in a driving rain at Lisa's Field.
Conti's 12-0 record squad will face the winner of today's other semifinal between Cameron and Bellaire St. John Saturday for the small-school title. The Dons lost to the Fighting Irish in last year's semifinals and the previous year to the Dragons in the finals.
"We will have to wait until Friday to see who we will play, but they are two great teams and I know we will have our hands full either way," Conti said. "But we are just so excited to be back in this position. The OVAC does a great job and this is a whole lot of fun for the girls."
Wednesday night's onslaught began in the bottom of the first when Courtney Moss, who had made a nice running catch in right to end the top of the frame, beat out an infield single.
Catcher Sam Myers singled to left with Moss going to third and Myers ending up at second on the throw. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch for a 1-0 score. Myers then crossed the dish on a one-out Ashley Jones run-scoring sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
Madonna added to the Red Knights' misery in the second with a one-out, two-run single to center to make it 4-0. Myers, who was intentionally walked, then scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 reading.
Stephanie Magnone contributed by ripped a run-scoring triple to deep left-center field and scored to make it 7-0 on Isabella Anile's RBI fielder's choice. The Dons managed to send eight to the plate in the inning, pushing across five runs.
Madonna added three more in the third, including Moss' third infield single, and first RBI, of the contest and another Jones sacrifice fly, which chased home her fourth run.
The hosts took advantage of a couple of Toronto miscues for the final margin in the bottom of the fourth.
It appeared Stewart was going to finish with a no-hitter, however, Kelsey Ellison was credited with an infield single after being ruled safe at first on a bang-bang play. Stewart finished with nine strikeouts, walking one and hitting a batter.
"This was just a great effort by the girls (Wednesday)," Conti added. "We have not been able to get into any kind of rhythm, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen coming in.
"But I am very proud of how we responded and played so well. We hit the ball very hard and Rebecca pitched excellent. We were just able to get some key hits in big situations. If we play like that again on Saturday we might come home with a "W"."
Madonna 12, Toronto 0
Toronto 000 00 - 0 1 3
Madonna 253 2x - 12 11 0
TORONTO: Sears (LP, 3K, 4BB) and Stoica. Ellison 1B.
MADONNA: Stewart (WP, 9K, 1BB) and Myers. Moss 3-1B, RBI; Myers 2-1B; Jones 1B, 4RBI; Magnone 3B, RBI; Lyons 2-1B.
“That's what learning is, after all; not whether we lose the game, but how we lose and how we've changed because of it and what we take away from it that we never had before, to apply to other games. Losing, in a curious way, is winning.” ~Richard Bach
It was a tough loss ladies but all you can do is learn from it and take what you have learned and apply it next year starting on the first day of practice. Congratulations on a great season!
It was a tough loss ladies but all you can do is learn from it and take what you have learned and apply it next year starting on the first day of practice. Congratulations on a great season!
DISCUSSION — Madonna softball coach Chris Conti talks with Emily Velto during a break in the action Tuesday at Starvaggi Park. The Blue Dons defeated Wheeling Central, 2-0, to move to 4-0 on the season.-- Mike Mathison
WEIRTON — Chris Conti has been coaching for 17 years and he said he’s never seen this kind of start to the softball season. And, he’s not talking about Madonna’s 4-0 start. “We’ve never been outside this long this early in the season,” said Conti. “In the 17 years I’ve been coaching, we’ve never had this kind of good weather, as far as I can remember. “It’s a plus for softball and a plus for the girls to get outside. “It’s a lot easier on everybody than being in a gym. Being out on the field this early we are able to go through infield, work on the cutoffs. “Everybody got a jump on things this year and with the girls I have on this team, with almost everybody back from last year, it has helped a lot.” His Blue Dons exercised some demons, so to speak, with Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over nemesis Wheeling Central at Starvaggi Park. “Any time you beat Wheeling Central, who has a great program, it is a very good win,” said Conti. “I’m happy for our girls. They played hard. “We’ve had a great start being 4-0. This is all the girls. They come out here and work hard. They want to do it. This group wants to win. “They come out every day and give 110 percent.” The early outside workouts has also helped Wheeling Central coach Rick Magruder, but in a different manner. The Maroon Knights were 28-4 a year ago and have one starter back and one senior on the team. “We’ve been out more this this year than last year,” said Magruder. “We were out one day by this time last year. “When you’re inside the gym and in the cage you don’t get the feel of playing. “This has helped our girls a lot. They can move better and there are more things you can do as a coaching staff. We could use all the practice we can get. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we have young kids who are willing to work. “It’s going to be fun.” Emily Velto’s RBI in the first inning game the hosts a 1-0 lead. Sophomore pitcher Rebecca Stewart made the lead hold. She allowed four singles, two of them to Lauren Baker, the lone returning starter. Paige Good had an RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to score Samantha Myers for the Blue Dons. Jen Nogay had a double, along with Good. Stewart finished with 10 strikeouts and one walk. “She pitched very well today,” said Conti. “She also had some really good defense behind her.” “It’s always competitive when we play,” said Magruder. “We knew they were going to be good when we were coming up here. “Chris does a great job with the program.” “Any time you play Wheeling Central you know it’s going to be a tough game,” said Conti. Madonna visits Linsly at 5 p.m. on Thursday. (Mathison can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com) Madonna 2, Wheeling Central 0 Wheeling Central 000 000 0 – 0 4 1 Madonna 100 001 x – 2 6 1 WHEELING CENTRAL: Alexis Christakis (LP, 7K, 1BB) and Carrington; Baker 2-1B; Helms 1B; Miller 1B. MADONNA (4-0): Stewart (WP, 10K, 1BB) and Myers; Good 2B, 1B, RBI; Nogay 2B; Myers 1B; Nicka 1B; McCune 1B; Velto RBI.
GET LOW — Madonna’s Jen Nogay attempts to slide under the tag of Bishop Donahue second baseman Megan Norman, Thursday. Nogay was out on the play, but the Blue Dons triumphed, 5-2.-- Ashley Newman
WEIRTON — The Weirton Madonna softball team continued its strong start Thursday with a 5-2 victory over visiting Bishop Donahue at Starvaggi Park. The Blue Dons were once again led by their ace, Rebecca Stewart. The sophomore hurler struck out seven, walked one and allowed only three hits. “This was a very good win,” Madonna head coach Chris Conti said. “Donahue has a great program. When you are able to beat a good team like that, it is always a good thing. We played very well today. I was very pleased with my girls. “Rebecca pitched a very good game today. We also made some good plays in the field, which really backed Rebecca up and helped us win the game.” Madonna’s offense began the game strong, scoring a pair of runs in the opening frame. Jen Nogay and Emily Velto each recorded a pair of singles to begin the inning. Samantha Myers followed with a ground out, which allowed a runner to cross the plate and Meghan Dulaney’s one-out single plated Velto, giving the Blue Dons an early 2-0 lead. “They just found the holes and it was basically like batting practice for them,” Bishop Donahue head coach Curt Mele explained. “They were ready to play and there is no doubt that they were the better team today.” Back-to-back singles by Donahue’s Taylore Barry and Cassie Campbell set up Alexis George with two runners on and no outs in the top of the third. George came through with a clutch two-run double, tying the score and serving notice that the Bishops would not go away quietly. But, Madonna again answered the call. Nogay hit a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning, giving the hosts the 3-2 lead. After Stewart held Bishop Donahue scoreless in the top of the fifth inning, Madonna’s bats again came alive. Myers and Dulaney led off the frame with back-to-back singles and both runners would eventually cross the plate, as the Blue Dons built a comfortable 5-2 lead. “We had players on base nearly every inning,” Conti said. “I thought that we did a very good job of hitting the ball. We really hit it hard today. That was really the key. When we did hit the ball, we hit it hard and we hit it in the right situations. “We had people on base and our offense was able to come up with a lot of key hits to advance them.” Stewart capped off the Madonna win from there, striking out three and giving up no hits in the last two innings. “Chris (Conti) does a great job with his girls,” Mele said. “Rebecca was on today and there was just nothing that we could do about it. She had our girls guessing. When you get up there and you are guessing, she has all ready won the battle. It really showed today.” Taking the loss for Bishop Donahue (7-4) was Sarah Blazer, striking out three and walking two in six innings of work. Nogay paced Madonna with two singles, a double and an RBI. “(Donahue) does a really nice job and they have a good team,” Conti said. “They are in our section, so it was nice to be able to see them early in the year and to see some of the things that they like to do. I enjoy going against good teams. Playing teams like this is only going to make us better.” Madonna (7-2) will host Linsly in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Monday. (Newman can be contacted at newsroom@heraldstaronline.com) Madonna 5, Bishop Donahue 2 Bishop Donahue 002 000 0 — 2 3 0 Madonna 200 120 x — 5 10 2 BISHOP DONAHUE (7-4): Blazer (LP, 3K, 2BB) and Midcap; George 2B, 2RBI; Barry 1B; Campbell 1B. MADONNA (7-2): Stewart (WP, 7K, 1BB) and Myers; Nogay 2-1B, 2B, RBI; Velto 1B; Myers 1B, RBI; Dulaney 2-1B, RBI; Nicka 1B; McCune 1B; Gianni 1B.
SIGNING — Madonna High School’s Meghan Dulaney will continue her academic and athletic careers at Wheeling Jesuit University, where she will play softball. Dulaney is surrounded by, from left, her mother Tricia Dulaney, Madonna athletic director Mike Arlia, principal John Mihalyo and softball coach Chris Conti.
- Mike Mathison
WEIRTON — Meghan Dulaney really didn’t see this coming. The Madonna High School senior had resigned herself to only being a student in college. That is, until Wheeling Jesuit University came calling. “I didn’t plan on playing softball in college,” said Dulaney. “I didn’t want to. I’ve played sports all four years here and I wanted to focus on my studies in college. “I didn’t think I would get an offer to play anywhere. I didn’t expect this. “I either wanted to go to Wheeling Jesuit or Shepherd because they are smaller schools and I wanted to go to a smaller college. All my friends who don’t play sports in college love going to school at Wheeling Jesuit. “I started thinking about it and was wondering what I was going to do in college during my spare time. I decided to play softball. It will keep me busy. “I’m always busy here in high school and I won’t mind staying busy in college. I’d rather be busy. I have to stay busy somehow.” Dulaney will continue her academic and athletic careers at Wheeling Jesuit University, where she will play softball for new coach Bill Vasko. “She will be a great asset to the Wheeling Jesuit program,” said Blue Dons softball coach Chris Conti. “She works very hard at the game and always has done that. She’s a great leader for us. She will fit in with their program very well.” Dulaney will major in athletic training and pre-physical therapy. She will head down that avenue because of getting injured in high school. “I got hurt this season (in soccer) and last season (in softball) and I had to go do physical therapy and I just loved it,” she said. “I want to work with athletes.” Dulaney played basketball and softball all four years at Madonna. She was a cheerleader her freshman and sophomore years, but switched to soccer her final two years. “I needed something to do because I really wasn’t into cheering anymore and I wanted to stop doing that,” she said about the switch from cheering to soccer. “Soccer is a contact sport and I like that. I had never played soccer before, so it was different and difficult for me. It was a challenge. “I’m really glad I played soccer because it was so much fun. It’s a good sport to be in if you want to get in shape. “I’ve been playing softball since I was 9. I used to like basketball a lot more, but I started getting better in softball and I was catching onto the sport.” “She started as a third baseman as a freshman and I moved her to shortstop because I thought she would be a better shortstop than a third baseman,” said Conti. “She’s worked at the game every year and has gotten better every year.” Dulaney knows she hasn’t reached this point alone. “I want to thank my mom, Mr. Conti and all the coaches who have worked with him and all my teammates,” said Dulaney. “But, Mr. Conti has pretty much taught me everything in softball.” (Mathison can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com)
June 4, 2008
Madonna places 3 on all-OVAC softball team
By AARON PETCHAL, sports writer POSTED: June 4, 2008
WHEELING — The local high school softball season has come to a close.
This season, several local athletes delivered strong performances on the softball fields throughout the Ohio Valley, and those players were honored with spots on the 2008 All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference teams.
In Class A, Madonna, which claimed the tournament title by defeating Bellaire St. John’s, had three girls named to the first team.
Junior shortstop Meghan Dulaney received the honor as did the Blue Dons’ freshmen battery of pitcher Rebecca Stewart and catcher Samantha Myers.
Toronto senior outfielder Shanna Cattrell also received the recognition.
In Class AA, Catholic Central junior Bree Bayne was named to the first team.
In Class AAA, Oak Glen had two girls receive first team honors — junior pitcher Erin Shuman and senior catcher Natasha Richard.
Harrison Central junior pitcher Sara Pelegreen, who struck out more than 200 batters this season, was also named to the first team.
In Class AAAA, Edison and Buckeye Local each had two girls named to the first team.
Sophomore pitcher Lexee Koran and junior shortstop Nikki Cesario were named to the first team for the Panthers, while pitchers Autumn Bendle, a senior, and Ashley Bendle, a junior, received the recognition for the Wildcats.
Also, Brooke, Big Red, Indian Creek and Weir each placed one player on the first team. Senior first baseman Miranda Wilson was honored for the Bruins; sophomore shortstop Tiara Snyder for Big Red; junior pitcher Liz Williamson for the Redskins; and junior shortstop Kaitlyn Pytchock for the Red Riders.
Several local players also received second team honors:
= In Class A, Madonna sophomore center fielder Jen Nogay and Toronto junior shortstop Nicole Radvansky.
= In Class AA, Catholic Central junior shortstop Sara Ashmead received the recognition.
= In Class AAA, Oak Glen senior shortstop Maria Gala, and Harrison Central junior catcher Kristina Brandon were both honored.
= In Class AAAA, Brooke, Big Red, Buckeye Local, Edison, Indian Creek and Weir each placed one player on the second team.
Senior shortstop Leigh Ann Lauri received the honor for the Bruins; junior center fielder Alexa Auteri for Big Red; sophomore second baseman Shelby Bartrug for the Panthers; senior third baseman Kim Smyth for the Wildcats; junior catcher Haley Mays for the Redskins; and senior catcher Angela Lamp for the Red Riders.
By AARON PETCHAL, sports writer POSTED: June 4, 2008
WHEELING — The local high school softball season has come to a close.
This season, several local athletes delivered strong performances on the softball fields throughout the Ohio Valley, and those players were honored with spots on the 2008 All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference teams.
In Class A, Madonna, which claimed the tournament title by defeating Bellaire St. John’s, had three girls named to the first team.
Junior shortstop Meghan Dulaney received the honor as did the Blue Dons’ freshmen battery of pitcher Rebecca Stewart and catcher Samantha Myers.
Toronto senior outfielder Shanna Cattrell also received the recognition.
In Class AA, Catholic Central junior Bree Bayne was named to the first team.
In Class AAA, Oak Glen had two girls receive first team honors — junior pitcher Erin Shuman and senior catcher Natasha Richard.
Harrison Central junior pitcher Sara Pelegreen, who struck out more than 200 batters this season, was also named to the first team.
In Class AAAA, Edison and Buckeye Local each had two girls named to the first team.
Sophomore pitcher Lexee Koran and junior shortstop Nikki Cesario were named to the first team for the Panthers, while pitchers Autumn Bendle, a senior, and Ashley Bendle, a junior, received the recognition for the Wildcats.
Also, Brooke, Big Red, Indian Creek and Weir each placed one player on the first team. Senior first baseman Miranda Wilson was honored for the Bruins; sophomore shortstop Tiara Snyder for Big Red; junior pitcher Liz Williamson for the Redskins; and junior shortstop Kaitlyn Pytchock for the Red Riders.
Several local players also received second team honors:
= In Class A, Madonna sophomore center fielder Jen Nogay and Toronto junior shortstop Nicole Radvansky.
= In Class AA, Catholic Central junior shortstop Sara Ashmead received the recognition.
= In Class AAA, Oak Glen senior shortstop Maria Gala, and Harrison Central junior catcher Kristina Brandon were both honored.
= In Class AAAA, Brooke, Big Red, Buckeye Local, Edison, Indian Creek and Weir each placed one player on the second team.
Senior shortstop Leigh Ann Lauri received the honor for the Bruins; junior center fielder Alexa Auteri for Big Red; sophomore second baseman Shelby Bartrug for the Panthers; senior third baseman Kim Smyth for the Wildcats; junior catcher Haley Mays for the Redskins; and senior catcher Angela Lamp for the Red Riders.
April 25, 2008
Madonna’s Stewart racking up no-hitters, cruising through OVAC’s
By AARON PETCHAL
Sports writer
ELM GROVE — Rebecca Stewart isn’t the most talkative player on the Madonna softball team, however, Stewart, a freshman, lets her performance in the pitching circle do all of the talking for her.
Thursday night, Stewart was once again on top of her game as she hurled her fourth no-hitter of the season in leading the Blue Dons past Beallsville, 10-0, in five innings in an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A Tournament Semifinal.
“It feels awesome,” Stewart said of her fourth no-hitter of the season.
Madonna head coach Chris Conti said Stewart is having strong season.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “She came onto our team. I saw her play a couple of times in the summertime. I didn’t know how she would accept the pressure as a freshman. She had a tough act to follow with Kacy Magnone, and I think she is doing an excellent job as a freshman. Her poise is very good as a freshman. If she makes a mistake, she doesn’t worry about. She just continues to pitch, and one thing that she does is she knows she has a good defense behind her. So, she just pitches the ball, and she knows if they hit the ball, they are going to make the defensive plays for her.”
Stewart said she pitched a good ballgame against the Blue Devils.
“I thought I did excellent,” she said. “I probably could have done better with the walks, but other than that, I did well.”
Stewart works on her pitching all year long.
“Her strengths are, I think it is her attitude,” Conti commented. “She has a great attitude for a freshman, and her work ethic. She has got a great work ethic. She pitches every day. She works at it. She works at it 12 months a year. That is her strength.”
Stewart has been a pitcher since she was a young girl.
“I have been pitching since second grade,” she said. “So, I have gained a lot of speed since then.”
Stewart is just the latest in a long line of dominant pitchers who have played at Madonna, including Janna LaMantia, Megan Gasaway and Magnone.
“I have had some good pitchers, and she fits in with all of the girls that I have had in the years I have had good pitchers,” Conti stated. “She fits right into the mold of the kids that I have had.
“I expected her to be a good pitcher. I didn’t expect her to be this good.”
(Petchal can be contacted at apetchal@heraldstaronline.com)
By AARON PETCHAL
Sports writer
ELM GROVE — Rebecca Stewart isn’t the most talkative player on the Madonna softball team, however, Stewart, a freshman, lets her performance in the pitching circle do all of the talking for her.
Thursday night, Stewart was once again on top of her game as she hurled her fourth no-hitter of the season in leading the Blue Dons past Beallsville, 10-0, in five innings in an Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A Tournament Semifinal.
“It feels awesome,” Stewart said of her fourth no-hitter of the season.
Madonna head coach Chris Conti said Stewart is having strong season.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “She came onto our team. I saw her play a couple of times in the summertime. I didn’t know how she would accept the pressure as a freshman. She had a tough act to follow with Kacy Magnone, and I think she is doing an excellent job as a freshman. Her poise is very good as a freshman. If she makes a mistake, she doesn’t worry about. She just continues to pitch, and one thing that she does is she knows she has a good defense behind her. So, she just pitches the ball, and she knows if they hit the ball, they are going to make the defensive plays for her.”
Stewart said she pitched a good ballgame against the Blue Devils.
“I thought I did excellent,” she said. “I probably could have done better with the walks, but other than that, I did well.”
Stewart works on her pitching all year long.
“Her strengths are, I think it is her attitude,” Conti commented. “She has a great attitude for a freshman, and her work ethic. She has got a great work ethic. She pitches every day. She works at it. She works at it 12 months a year. That is her strength.”
Stewart has been a pitcher since she was a young girl.
“I have been pitching since second grade,” she said. “So, I have gained a lot of speed since then.”
Stewart is just the latest in a long line of dominant pitchers who have played at Madonna, including Janna LaMantia, Megan Gasaway and Magnone.
“I have had some good pitchers, and she fits in with all of the girls that I have had in the years I have had good pitchers,” Conti stated. “She fits right into the mold of the kids that I have had.
“I expected her to be a good pitcher. I didn’t expect her to be this good.”
(Petchal can be contacted at apetchal@heraldstaronline.com)
April 24, 2008
Blue Dons to play for conference championship
ELM GROVE — Winning championships is never easy.
The Madonna softball team will look to capture the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A Tournament Championship when the Blue Dons take on Bellaire St. John’s in the finals at 2 p.m. today.
The Irish have captured the last three tournament titles.
Madonna advanced to the finals by knocking off Paden City in the quarterfinals on Monday, and Beallsville in the semifinals on Thursday.
Madonna freshman pitcher Rebecca Stewart has not allowed a hit so far in the tournament as she picked up her third and fourth no-hitters of the season.
Bellaire St. John’s advanced to the finals by defeating Bridgeport in the quarterfinals and Bishop Donahue in the semifinals.
“We have played St. John’s once in the Undo’s Tournament,” Madonna head coach Chris Conti commented. “They beat us 12-2 in the Undo’s Tournament. St. John’s is a good team. They are a tough team. We have got our hands full playing on Saturday.”
The Blue Dons and the Irish met in the tournament semifinals last season.
“We went 16 innings with them last year,” Conti said. “It is always a good game with us and them. They are a good team. They are a very good team, and they are a well-coached team. So, we have our hands full. Hopefully, we can come here and play a good game against them.
“You have got to make the plays in the field. As long as we make the plays in the field, we will play well against them.”
Conti said he is very happy with how the season has gone so far for his team.
“I am very pleased with these girls,” he said. “They are a great group of girls. They are. They are very aggressive girls. They are just good girls to coach. They want to play the game. They like to win. They play together, which is a very big plus. They play together. That is the big thing. I am very pleased with them.”
ELM GROVE — Winning championships is never easy.
The Madonna softball team will look to capture the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A Tournament Championship when the Blue Dons take on Bellaire St. John’s in the finals at 2 p.m. today.
The Irish have captured the last three tournament titles.
Madonna advanced to the finals by knocking off Paden City in the quarterfinals on Monday, and Beallsville in the semifinals on Thursday.
Madonna freshman pitcher Rebecca Stewart has not allowed a hit so far in the tournament as she picked up her third and fourth no-hitters of the season.
Bellaire St. John’s advanced to the finals by defeating Bridgeport in the quarterfinals and Bishop Donahue in the semifinals.
“We have played St. John’s once in the Undo’s Tournament,” Madonna head coach Chris Conti commented. “They beat us 12-2 in the Undo’s Tournament. St. John’s is a good team. They are a tough team. We have got our hands full playing on Saturday.”
The Blue Dons and the Irish met in the tournament semifinals last season.
“We went 16 innings with them last year,” Conti said. “It is always a good game with us and them. They are a good team. They are a very good team, and they are a well-coached team. So, we have our hands full. Hopefully, we can come here and play a good game against them.
“You have got to make the plays in the field. As long as we make the plays in the field, we will play well against them.”
Conti said he is very happy with how the season has gone so far for his team.
“I am very pleased with these girls,” he said. “They are a great group of girls. They are. They are very aggressive girls. They are just good girls to coach. They want to play the game. They like to win. They play together, which is a very big plus. They play together. That is the big thing. I am very pleased with them.”
April 20, 2008
OVAC softball, baseball playoff timeBy AARON PETCHAL,sports writer; The Weirton Daily Times
WHEELING — The Madonna softball team has claimed a another championship.
Madonna swept city-rival Weir to claim the City Championship and now the Blue Dons have claimed the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A regular season championship.
Linsly edged Catholic Central to win the title in Class AA. Meadowbrook claimed the crown in Class AAA, and Wheeling Park placed first in Class AAAA.
The semifinals will be played Wednesday and Thursday at the 1-470 fields.
The Saturday finals at the I-470 complex will be: Class AAAA, 10:30 a.m.; Class A, 12:15 p.m.; Class AA, 2 p.m.; Class AAA, 3:45 p.m.
The quarterfinals begin today.
In Class A, top-seeded Madonna (13-4) hosts Paden City (2-13) at Starvaggi Park at 5:30 p.m. Bellaire St. John’s (10-3) entertains Bridgeport (2-11); Valley (2-7) visits Bishop Donahue (10-8) and Toronto (3-12) hosts Beallsville (3-9).
In Class AA, Fort Frye will make the approximate four-hour round trip to visit No. 2 seed Catholic Central (11-4) at 5 p.m.
In Class AAA, No. 1 Meadowbrook (8-1) hosts Union Local (4-11) and No. 3 Oak Glen (11-8) entertains Martins Ferry (8-7).
In Class AAA, No. 6 John Marshall (6-5) goes to Edison (8-3); No. 4 Buckeye Local (13-4) hosts Beaver Local (9-3); Indian Creek visits Cambridge and Brooke heads to Wheeling Park for a 7:30 p.m. game.
WHEELING — The Madonna softball team has claimed a another championship.
Madonna swept city-rival Weir to claim the City Championship and now the Blue Dons have claimed the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Class A regular season championship.
Linsly edged Catholic Central to win the title in Class AA. Meadowbrook claimed the crown in Class AAA, and Wheeling Park placed first in Class AAAA.
The semifinals will be played Wednesday and Thursday at the 1-470 fields.
The Saturday finals at the I-470 complex will be: Class AAAA, 10:30 a.m.; Class A, 12:15 p.m.; Class AA, 2 p.m.; Class AAA, 3:45 p.m.
The quarterfinals begin today.
In Class A, top-seeded Madonna (13-4) hosts Paden City (2-13) at Starvaggi Park at 5:30 p.m. Bellaire St. John’s (10-3) entertains Bridgeport (2-11); Valley (2-7) visits Bishop Donahue (10-8) and Toronto (3-12) hosts Beallsville (3-9).
In Class AA, Fort Frye will make the approximate four-hour round trip to visit No. 2 seed Catholic Central (11-4) at 5 p.m.
In Class AAA, No. 1 Meadowbrook (8-1) hosts Union Local (4-11) and No. 3 Oak Glen (11-8) entertains Martins Ferry (8-7).
In Class AAA, No. 6 John Marshall (6-5) goes to Edison (8-3); No. 4 Buckeye Local (13-4) hosts Beaver Local (9-3); Indian Creek visits Cambridge and Brooke heads to Wheeling Park for a 7:30 p.m. game.
April 14, 2008
Blue Dons pick up big winFrom staff reports; The Weirton Daily Times
WEIRTON — Freshman Rebecca Stewart continues to get the job done in the circle for the Madonna softball team.
Stewart struck out six and limited Linsly to just four hits on Monday as the Blue Dons scored three runs in the first two innings to knock off the Cadets, 3-1, at Starvaggi Park.
Madonna (11-3) entered the game ranked first in the OVAC Class A standings, while Linsly (10-2) was first in Class AA.
Offensively for the Blue Dons, catcher Samantha Myers recorded two doubles and an RBI, Devon McCune contributed a single and two RBIs and Nikki Glover chipped in with two singles. Finally, Jen Nogay and Paige Good delivered base hits.
Megan Byhanna took the loss for the Cadets. She struck out 10 and walked three. Offensively, Erika Mitchem, Kari Kitchen, Linden Nelson and Jessie Schucht all tallied singles.
Madonna returns to action today at 5 p.m. at Bridgeport.
Blue Dons 3, Cadets 1
Linsly 000 010 0 — 1 4 0
Madonna 120 000 0 — 3 7 2
LINSLY (10-2): Byhanna LP (10K, 3BB) and Mitchem; Mitchem 1B; Nelson 1B; Kitchen 1B; Schucht 1B.
MADONNA (11-3): Stewart WP (6K, 1BB) and Myers; Myers 2-2B, RBI; Nogay 1B; Glover 2-1B; Good 1B; McCune 1B, 2 RBIs.
WEIRTON — Freshman Rebecca Stewart continues to get the job done in the circle for the Madonna softball team.
Stewart struck out six and limited Linsly to just four hits on Monday as the Blue Dons scored three runs in the first two innings to knock off the Cadets, 3-1, at Starvaggi Park.
Madonna (11-3) entered the game ranked first in the OVAC Class A standings, while Linsly (10-2) was first in Class AA.
Offensively for the Blue Dons, catcher Samantha Myers recorded two doubles and an RBI, Devon McCune contributed a single and two RBIs and Nikki Glover chipped in with two singles. Finally, Jen Nogay and Paige Good delivered base hits.
Megan Byhanna took the loss for the Cadets. She struck out 10 and walked three. Offensively, Erika Mitchem, Kari Kitchen, Linden Nelson and Jessie Schucht all tallied singles.
Madonna returns to action today at 5 p.m. at Bridgeport.
Blue Dons 3, Cadets 1
Linsly 000 010 0 — 1 4 0
Madonna 120 000 0 — 3 7 2
LINSLY (10-2): Byhanna LP (10K, 3BB) and Mitchem; Mitchem 1B; Nelson 1B; Kitchen 1B; Schucht 1B.
MADONNA (11-3): Stewart WP (6K, 1BB) and Myers; Myers 2-2B, RBI; Nogay 1B; Glover 2-1B; Good 1B; McCune 1B, 2 RBIs.
April 12, 2008
Nearly perfect: ’Dons’ Stewart tosses no-hitterFrom staff reports
WEIRTON — Rebecca Stewart was one walk shy of perfect, Saturday, as she threw 14 strikeouts and allowed no hits in Madonna’s 6-0 shutout of Shadyside. The Lady Dons went on to sweep the Tigers with a 7-3 victory in the nightcap.
While Stewart kept the Tigers’ batters frustrated in the first win, her teammate Meghan Dulaney led the Lady Dons’ offensive charge with a single and and a double.
Madonna’s Nikki Glover and Erin Birkheimer each singled.
In the second game, Dulaney earned the win with seven strikeouts. She also tripled.
Samantha Myers had three base hits, while Glover and Jen Nicka each had two.
Also for Madonna, Jen Nogay doubled and Paige Good singled.
Madonna is now 9-3 on the year and next plays host to Linsly, Monday.
Game 1
Madonna 6, Shadyside 0
Shadyside 000 000 0 – 0 0 2
Madonna 010 302 X – 6 4 0
SHADYSIDE: Shana Caldwell lp (5K, 3BB) and Brittany Richardson.
MADONNA: Rebecca Stewart wp (14K, 1BB) and Samantha Myers; Meghan Dulaney 1B, 2B; Erin Birkheimer 1B; Nikki Glover 1B.
Game 2
Madonna 7, Shadyside 3
Shadyside 002 001 0 – 3 5 2
Madonna 310 111 X – 7 10 1
SHADYSHADE: Caldwell lp (2K, 4BB), Bozenski (3) (2K, 2BB) and Richardson; Bozenski 1B; Warren 1B; Mullins 1B; West 1B; Price 1B.
MADONNA: Dulaney wp (7K, 8BB) and Myers; Jen Nogay 2B; Myers 3-1B; Dulaney 3B; Glover 2-1B; Jen Nicka 2-1B; Paige Good 1B.
WEIRTON — Rebecca Stewart was one walk shy of perfect, Saturday, as she threw 14 strikeouts and allowed no hits in Madonna’s 6-0 shutout of Shadyside. The Lady Dons went on to sweep the Tigers with a 7-3 victory in the nightcap.
While Stewart kept the Tigers’ batters frustrated in the first win, her teammate Meghan Dulaney led the Lady Dons’ offensive charge with a single and and a double.
Madonna’s Nikki Glover and Erin Birkheimer each singled.
In the second game, Dulaney earned the win with seven strikeouts. She also tripled.
Samantha Myers had three base hits, while Glover and Jen Nicka each had two.
Also for Madonna, Jen Nogay doubled and Paige Good singled.
Madonna is now 9-3 on the year and next plays host to Linsly, Monday.
Game 1
Madonna 6, Shadyside 0
Shadyside 000 000 0 – 0 0 2
Madonna 010 302 X – 6 4 0
SHADYSIDE: Shana Caldwell lp (5K, 3BB) and Brittany Richardson.
MADONNA: Rebecca Stewart wp (14K, 1BB) and Samantha Myers; Meghan Dulaney 1B, 2B; Erin Birkheimer 1B; Nikki Glover 1B.
Game 2
Madonna 7, Shadyside 3
Shadyside 002 001 0 – 3 5 2
Madonna 310 111 X – 7 10 1
SHADYSHADE: Caldwell lp (2K, 4BB), Bozenski (3) (2K, 2BB) and Richardson; Bozenski 1B; Warren 1B; Mullins 1B; West 1B; Price 1B.
MADONNA: Dulaney wp (7K, 8BB) and Myers; Jen Nogay 2B; Myers 3-1B; Dulaney 3B; Glover 2-1B; Jen Nicka 2-1B; Paige Good 1B.
April 3, 2008
Mike Mathison
WEIRTON — Madonna scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to secure Thursday’s softball City Championship with a 7-3 win over crosstown rival Weir High.
“The City Championship is nice to win,” said Madonna coach Chris Conti. “It’s a city rivalry and it’s nice to have bragging rights.”
Madonna struck first in the third inning when Emily Velto, who reached on one of eight Weir High errors, scored from third on a bunt by Erin Birkhimer.
The Red Riders tied it in the bottom of the fourth as Katlyn Pitchok doubled home Nikki Robinson, who was in as a courtesy runner for pitcher Tiffani Swiger, who also reached on an error.
Madonna came right back to plate two runs in the top of the fifth.
With one out, Samantha Myers reached on an error, Meghan Dulaney singled and Birkhimer drove them both home on a double.
Weir made it 3-3 when Elise Cowden doubled home Kristen Dotson, who started the bottom of the fifth with a single, and Nikki Robinson.
The Blue Dons bounced right back with a run in the top of the sixth. Devon McCune singled and Elizabeth Pietranton came in to run for her. She scored on Myers’ double.
“When they tied the game, we didn’t give up and kept fighting back and then they fought back,” said Conti. “Our girls have that fire in them and it’s a big key to this team.”
“I like the competitive spirit they are showing,” said Weir High coach Bob Rosnick. “We’re starting to come along, but still, we have to make the routine plays, which we’re still not doing. Again tonight, we had more errors than we probably should have. We make the routine plays and it’s a different ballgame at the end.”
The Blue Dons’ three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning were all freshman pitcher Rebecca Stewart would need. She finished with five strikeouts and did not walk a batter.
“She is doing a fantastic job as a freshman pitcher,” said Conti. “I have no complaints about her.
“My whole team is doing a very good job. This team is dedicated to play and they’re playing very hard.”
Birkhimer and Nikki Glover reached on errors and Jen Nicka walked to load the bases with one out. McCune’s groundout scored Birkhimer and Jen Nogay’s double plated Glover and Nicka.
“It was a lot different game than last time,” said Conti. “I thought we played just as well, but we left a lot of people on base this time.
“Samantha and Jen came through for us there at the end of the game.”
Madonna beat Weir, 5-0, on Tuesday.
“We talked about that and we wanted to show we were a better team than we showed them the other day,” said Rosnick.
“We really felt we could have won this game.
“The Madonna girls rose to the occasion. They made the plays when they had to make the plays and the pitcher threw strikes when she had to.
“They did a good job. I congratulate them and they deserved to win.”
(Mathison can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com)
Blue Dons 7, Red Riders 3
Madonna 001 021 3 – 7 7 1
Weir 000 120 0 – 3 5 8
MADONNA (5-2): Stewart (WP, 5K, 0BB) and Myers; Dulaney 2-1B; Nicka 1B; Myers 2B, RBI; Nogay 2B, 2RBI; McCune 1B, RBI; Birkhimer, 2B, 3RBI.
WEIR (2-4): Swiger (1K, 2BB), L. Cowden (5th, LP, 2K, 1BB) and E. Cowden; Swiger 1B; Pitchok 2B, RBI; Dotson 1B; E. Cowden 2B, 2RBI; L. Cowden 1B.
April 1, 2008
Central, Big Red, Madonna winFrom staff reports; The Weirton Daily Times
Madonna 9, East Liverpool 0
WEIRTON — Madonna moved to 4-2 on the season with a 9-0 won over East Liverpool, Tuesday, at Starvaggi Park.
Rebecca Stewart struck out 13, walked six and allowed just two hits, both singles.
Freshman Samantha Myers led the offensive attack with three singles. Senior Erin Birkhimer added a double and single.
Madonna visits Oak Glen at 5 p.m. today.
Blue Dons 9, Potters 0
East Liverpool 000 000 0 – 0 2 4
Madonna 201 213 x – 9 9 1
EAST LIVERPOOL: Dorffer (LP, 6K, 3BB) and Simmons; Davis 1B; Jones 1B.
MADONNA (4-2): Stewart (WP, 13K, 6BB) and Myers; Nogay 1B; Myers 3-1B; Birkhimer 1B, 2B; Good 1B; Glover 1B; Nicka 1B.
Madonna 9, East Liverpool 0
WEIRTON — Madonna moved to 4-2 on the season with a 9-0 won over East Liverpool, Tuesday, at Starvaggi Park.
Rebecca Stewart struck out 13, walked six and allowed just two hits, both singles.
Freshman Samantha Myers led the offensive attack with three singles. Senior Erin Birkhimer added a double and single.
Madonna visits Oak Glen at 5 p.m. today.
Blue Dons 9, Potters 0
East Liverpool 000 000 0 – 0 2 4
Madonna 201 213 x – 9 9 1
EAST LIVERPOOL: Dorffer (LP, 6K, 3BB) and Simmons; Davis 1B; Jones 1B.
MADONNA (4-2): Stewart (WP, 13K, 6BB) and Myers; Nogay 1B; Myers 3-1B; Birkhimer 1B, 2B; Good 1B; Glover 1B; Nicka 1B.
March 29, 2008
From staff reports; The Weirton Daily Times
The Madonna and Weir High softball teams each had easy doubleheader sweeps on Saturday.
The Blue Dons swept Paden City, 16-1 and 8-0 at Starvaggi Park.
The Red Riders traveled to Grafton and came home 13-0 and 14-1 winners.
Madonna (2-2) and Weir (2-1) are scheduled to meet for the City Championship at 4 p.m. on Monday at Starvaggi Park.
The Blue Dons totaled only eight hits on the day. The first game was delayed three hours while the field was getting prepared.Freshman Rebecca Stewart pitched a four-inning no-hitter in the first game. She struckout eight and walked two.
Erin Birkhimer, Meghan Dulaney and Samantha Myers each collected a pair of RBIs in the first outing.Jen Nicka had two singles and Devon McCune one hit,Nicka had Madonna’s lone hit in the second game, when the hosts scored one run off 10 Paden City walks.
Game One
Blue Dons 16, Wildcats 1
Paden City 001 0 - 1 0 1
Madonna 651 4 - 16 7 1
PADEN?CITY:?Phillips (LP, 5K, 10BB) and Efaw.
MADONNA:? Stewart (WP, 8K, 2BB) and Myers. Myers 2-1B, 2RBI; Dulaney 1B, 2RBI; Birkhimer 2-1*, 2RBI; Nicka 2-1B; McCune 1B.
Game Two
Blue Dons 8, Wildcats 0
Paden City 000 000 0 - 0 1 1
Madonna 012 113 x - 8 1 0
PADEN?CITY:?Phillips (LP, 6K, 10BB)?and Efaw.
MADONNA:?Dulaney (2 innings, 5K, 1BB), Stewart (WP, 3rd, 10K, 2BB)?and Myers. Nicka 1B; Hendley RBI.
