MADISON — The Madison Area Memorial High School softball team knew Carrabec likes to play an aggressive style. The Bulldogs knew the Cobras would try to bunt and steal at every chance.
The Bulldogs were ready. Madison threw three Carrabec players out on the bases, including two in a pivotal third inning, and that helped the Bulldogs take a 6-1 win.
Madison (13-1) coach Chris LeBlanc said the Bulldogs were especially concerned with Carrabec (8-6) left fielder Baylee Atwood’s speed.
“We worked on it a lot yesterday in practice,” coach LeBlanc said of defending Carrabec’s smallball style of play. “We brought Emily McKenney in to do a little pitching so we could work on the bunts. We brought in a couple people with some speed to give us the Baylee Atwood look with some speed. (Carrabec coach Craig Knight) brings out the best in you. You know they’re going to well-coached and disciplined and play the small game.” The game was scoreless in the top of the third, when Carrabec had its best chance to take the lead. The Cobras had three hits in the inning, but had two runners thrown out on the bases, including Bailey Dunphy on an attempted steal of second to end the inning, and did not score.
“We’ve been aggressive all year. Sometimes you live by it, sometimes you die by it,” Knight acknowledged.
Madison, on the other hand, pushed across two runs with two outs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Kayla Bess scored on Madeline Wood’s double to center field. Aly LeBlanc singled to score Wood.
“That inning was really important. We needed to break open the score and get some runs across. I definitely think it started our momentum,” Aly LeBlanc, who also drove in a run in the fifth inning, said.
As important as Aly LeBlanc was offensively for the Bulldogs, she came up bigger defensively from her catching position. LeBlanc threw two runners out trying to steal second base, including Atwood in the sixth inning.
“It’s a lot more pressure, but I like it, because it keeps you more intense. The whole entire team is more focused the entire game, knowing they’re a competitive team,” Aly LeBlanc said.
Added coach LeBlanc: “I don’t think I give her a lot of credit, because of being my daughter, but that’s huge. I don’t think she’s had but a couple passed balls all year.”
Erin Whalen also drove in a run in the fifth for Madison, and Bess hit an RBI double in the sixth. Carrabec’s lone run came in the fourth, when Lexie Cowan hit a two-out triple and scored on Mickayla Willette’s single. Wood surrendered seven hits for Madison, while walking none and striking out four.
“(Wood’s) changeup was on and she was hitting spots really well. When her changeup is on, it really throws off the batters,” Aly LeBlanc said.
Sam LeBeau struck out five and walked two for the Cobras.
“We’ve only scored two runs the last two games. We’ve got to start hitting the ball and making things happen,” Knight said.
The game was delayed approximately 20 minutes before the top of the seventh inning when home plate umpire Bill Clark fell ill and had to leave. An ambulance came and took Clark for treatment. Base umpire Larry Rioux went behind the plate and completed the game.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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