The Madelia Blackhawks ended their regular season with an 8-5 Valley Conference softball win over the Martin County West Mavericks at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.
MCW ends its regular season with a record of 8-9 and will play host to Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Welcome. Madelia ends its regular season with a record of 10-7.
“We’re a team where we need everybody to contribute,” MCW head coach Darrell Ziegler said. “Offensively and defensively, we don’t have a single player who is going to carry us. Our pitchers have to do a better job of getting ahead in the count. … It’s being ready to play when you get to the park.”
Six of Madelia’s eight runs reached base on walks.
The Blackhawks got the scoring started in the first inning. Addie Ahern started the top of the first with a double down the left-field line, then Audrey Zaleski and Abby Jacobs took consecutive walks to load the bases.
The Mavericks got the first out of the game when a ground ball to Taylor Elliott at shortstop turned into a force out at the plate, but Kylie Smith walked with the bases loaded for an RBI.
The Mavericks made an early pitching change before Malia Schwanke lined a single to center on the first pitch she saw, scoring Jacobs. Brooke Lensing then scored when Ashlynn Sweet singled to left.
