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For the last two weeks Madison County’s played in one nail-biter after another between the Bull Run and Region B tournaments. What happened Tuesday night was truly unexpected. Playing in its last possible home game of the year, the Mountaineers made it easy on themselves and their fans as they cruised past an overwhelmed Chincoteague, 16-1, to advance to the Group AA Division 1 semifinals for the second straight season.
“You wouldn’t expect this, that’s for sure” said Madison coach Jesse Yowell of his teams start in the state tournament. “But you’re going to see a lot better competition in the next game.”
As has been the case all post season, Mountaineers pitcher Lauren Seale imposed her will early on. While the Ponies lead off the first inning with a single, the sophomore picked up eight of the next nine outs in the game on strike outs. Thanks to an offensive explosion, Seale only had to go four innings and gave up just hits and no runs.
“I told her earlier this year that she was our go-to going into the playoffs, getting us through the district and regionals,” Yowell said. “She’s done that. She’s been awesome pitching, striking everyone out.”
Madison put two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the first, but had to wait until the second and third to get rolling.
The Mountaineers broke loose in the second on a 6-run rally that began with a slap single from Sam Atwell. Kaitlyn Aylor and Reagan Clatterbaugh each singled to load the bases. Timberly Deane answered with a single to break the scoreless tie. In the next at-bat Casey Racer followed through with a 2-run double to make it 3-0. Deane scored on a passed ball during Bailey Colvins at bat. Colvin then brought in Racer on a sacrifice fly to left field. With the bases empty, Kerri Carpenter delivered a triple and was brought home in the next at bat on a single from Seale turning the game in a 6-run contest.
“(Coming in) we thought we couldn’t take any team lately, that if they came this far they must be good,” Racer said. “We all followed up on one another and we all got hits.”
Once again Atwell led the third inning off with a slap single. After steal second and an error during Aylor’s at bat, Atwell scored on a passed ball. Aylor was then plated when Clatterbaugh reached base on an error. Three batters later Carptener made it 9-0 on an RBI single.
The Ponies picked up their lone run in the fifth but things swung right back Madison’s way and right quick.
Errors plagued Chincoteague after that. For a third straight time, this time in the fourth, Atwell slapped one into the infield and ran out of the box to earn a leadoff single. Aylor then picked up another single and a walk to Clatterbaugh loaded the bases. Deane came through in that situation with a 2-run double. Racer then reached base on an error to bring in another run. Another error during Colvin’s at bat brought home two more Madison runners. After another error, Seale drove in a run on a double to make it 15-1.
“We preach to be aggressive on the base paths, if it’s there you make the play,” Yowell said. “You make the defense make a play and a lot of times they’ll make a mistake instead of getting the out. That’s what we try and teach in practice day-in, day-out.”
With plenty of substitutions in, Madison added one last run in the sixth starting with a walk to Aylor. Chelsey Colvin then reached base on an error and Racer added one last single.
“We were lucky that we got to put in our subs,” Racer said. “That gives them confidence and getting to participate in a game this far (into the playoffs).”
Madison will now head to Radford on Friday at 10 a.m. to play in the final four against Holston.
“We don’t know a lot about them, but we’ll be practicing on playing the bunt,” Yowell said. “We know they’re good.”
