MADISON — With everyone coming back from a solid team last year, Madison looked like a real contender in Western C softball. So far, the Bulldogs are showing every sign that they are indeed one of the best teams in the league.
Madison defeated Mt. Abram 18-2 on Wednesday afternoon, in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule. The Bulldogs are undefeated through six games and everyone got into the act: Every starter reached base at least twice, the Bulldogs didn’t make an error and pitcher Emily McKenney threw a three-hitter with four strikeouts.
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“We all communicate. We all get along,” said Madison left fielder Shelby Cutten, who went 4 for 4. “We just work together. We don’t get down on ourselves. If we make a bad play, we make up for it.”
The Bulldogs are doing this without one of their best players. Senior third baseman Nathalie Michaud, who was also Madison’s leadoff hitter, broke her hand on a tag play recently. Madison is hopeful she could return before the end of the season.
Cutten batted leadoff Wednesday and started Madison’s six-run first inning with a booming triple to left. Cutten had another hit before the first inning was over, and McKenney, Kayla Belanger and Sierra LeBlanc also hit safely in the inning.
When the Bulldogs weren’t getting base hits, they were working the count and showing good patience at the plate. Madison batters swung at 37 pitches and swung and missed at only three. They also drew eight walks against two Mt. Abram pitchers.
“I thought we put the ball in play very well,” Madison coach Al Veneziano said. “Up and down the order, we have some good hitters. Making (the defense) make plays is a big key to the whole thing.”
McKenney and No. 8 batter Kayla Booker each had two hits for Madison. Jameka Martins came off the bench in the fourth inning and drove in the last three runs of the game with a bases-loaded triple to right-center field.
Mt. Abram made better contact against McKenney as the game went along, but the Roadrunners’ three hits were spread out over three different innings. Taylor Jordan and Katie Jordan each had infield singles and Jen Rowland smacked an RBI single in the fourth. The Roadrunners are now 2-2. Both of those losses are to Madison. Mt. Abram lost 12-0 to the Bulldogs on opening day.
“We played a little better in the last game we played them,” Mt. Abram coach Tom McCafferty said. “We’re not quite where I’d like us to be, but 2-2, we’ll take it. I’m happy with the girls. They’re working hard, and we’re trying.”
Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
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