MADRID — The third time proved to be the charm for the Madrid softball team, as the Tigers avenged to heartbreaking losses to Woodward-Granger in the regular season with an 8-3 victory over the Hawks Wednesday in their Class 2A Region 7 Quarterfinal.
Madrid (18-16) was on the board early and often, plating one run in the first inning and five more in their next at-bat to post a quick 6-0 advantage.
The Tigers — who were the visitors on the scoreboard — made it 7-0 with a run in the top of the fifth, but W-G’s offense finally awakened in the bottom of the frame.
Josie Baumgartner singled for the Hawks, with Miranda Aunspach safe on a late-decision throw in the infield. Bree Lesch singled to load the bases, with a Meagan Bandstra base hit plating Baumgartner. Lesch overran second base on the play, but stayed alive in the ensuing rundown long enough for an alert Aunspach to race home and cut the W-G deficit to 7-2.
Madrid made it 8-3 with a run in the top of the seventh, with singles from Lesch and Kendra Husmann and a RBI-base hit from Bandstra plating the final Hawk run.
Bandstra had two singles and two RBIs and Lesch two singles to lead W-G, with Baumgartner adding a single and reaching base safely three times while Husmann provided a base hit.
Riley Jamison suffered the loss for the Hawks in the ring. She yielded eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits and four walks while striking out four.
W-G finishes their season 13-22. Counting their eighth grade seasons, seniors Baumgartner, Soelberg and Webb were a combined 111-78 overall as Hawks. The loss of the trio would be felt in many areas, head coach Noah Bean said.
“Our seniors have really helped lay a great foundation here,” he explained. “Their example, both on and off the field, was a real positive for us. I received many compliments about how our team behaved and acted and that is in part because of the example the seniors set.
“Overall, I am really proud of the kids,” Bean said. “They had to overcome the adversity of losing their starting pitcher and top hitter at the last minute before the season and that is never easy. We had several kids step up and become leaders for us and that is only going to help going forward.”
