MAC edges out Maidens

RONAN – On Tuesday, two Mission Valley rivals squared off when the Ronan Maidens hosted the Mission-Arlee-Charlo Lady Bulldogs in Ronan.  The Maidens entered the game 5-1 and were looking to hand MAC their first loss of the season. But it was MAC’s bats along with some amazing defensive plays that dictated the game and gave the Lady Bulldogs the 6-3 victory.

Sara Nerby and Emyli Gillingham led the offensive charge for the Lady Bulldogs, hitting a combined 6-for-8 from the plate and each driving in two runs.  MAC’s offense was productive Tuesday, but it was their defense that made extraordinary plays that held the Maidens’ powerful offense in check.    

MAC starting pitcher Loren Erickson was in control for most of the game, thanks in part to some great outfield catches made behind her. The Maidens were consistently putting the ball in play, but every ball that Ronan smacked seemed to find its way into a defensive glove.  

In the bottom of the third, the Maidens smoked a ball to dead center that was certainly destined to reach the fence. That was until MAC center fielder Nerby leaped up and pulled down the rocketing line drive to steal away the extra-base hit.  

“My outfield saves plays, they save runs,” said MAC head coach Susan Weaselhead. “Whether it’s diving or leaping for balls, our seniors in the outfield, you can’t beat them.”

Doty’s earlier home run in the top of the third made it 3-0.  Which seemed like it would be enough, considering the way Erickson was pitching and how her teammates were playing defensively.  

Trailing 4-0, the Maidens rallied with two runs in the fifth. The Lady Bulldogs would battle right back, tacking on two of their own in the top of the sixth.  The added insurance was enough for MAC to hold on to the 6-3 win and remain undefeated in their young season.  

MAC would continue to roll right on through the weekend.  First, behind Erickson’s one-hitter, they dismantled Corvallis 18-0. The Lady Bulldogs jumped all over the Blue Demons 6-0 in the first inning.  MAC would score another six in the third and six in the fourth before the mercy rule was applied in the fifth.

On Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs took care of Thompson Falls 8-0. MAC would capitalize on some sloppy play courtesy of Thompson Falls.  A pair of wild pitches, compounded with a pair of errors, opened the flood gates in the first inning and the Lady Bulldogs jumped all over Thompson Falls, 5-0.  That early lead was more than enough for Erickson to slam the door.

Erickson has seemed to get in a groove as of late. The senior pitcher has shutout her last two opponents and has only given up seven earned runs on the season. Pitching in front the great defense that the Lady Bulldogs have only increases Erickson’s confidence in the circle.

“My girls are definitely a MAC family. They play together and support each other,” said Coach Weaselhead. “Knowing the support she has behind her, [Erickson] is very comfortable pitching.”

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 4-0 on the season and play Loyola on Thursday in Mission. For Tuesday’s MAC vs. Florence results, visit us online at www.leaderadvertiser.com.

Ronan would lick their wounds and prepare for their class-A rematch with Hamilton.  The Maidens were defeated 3-2 earlier in the year, when Hamilton’s newly acquired pitcher Brie Clifford surrendered just five hits and the Maidens’ typically potent offense was silenced.

The second time seeing Clifford, the Maidens wouldn’t miss.  

With the roles reversed, Clifford didn’t stand a chance against Ronan’s bats.  Ronan would rally to score runs in the first four innings.  In the fourth, the Maidens busted the game wide open, scoring five runs and blistering the Broncs’ star pitcher in the process, going on to win 11-3.  Hamilton didn’t help their cause any by committing four errors, but give Ronan credit for putting the ball in play.

“We really worked on batting all week,” said Ronan’s head coach Brad Benson.  “We made some adjustments [from the last time we faced Hamilton] and we put the bat on the ball. We had a mental block against Mission-Arlee-Charlo and didn’t make [those in-game] adjustments.  We kept hitting it right to them and not hitting the ball in the gap.”  

Sharp line drives frequently found the web of MAC’s gloves on Tuesday, but in Thursday’s game against Hamilton, those same line-drives were finding the gaps.  Seven different Maidens contributed with an RBI.  

The statement win Thursday against Hamilton carried over to Ronan’s weekend doubleheader against Loyola.  First, they muscled their way to a 14-6 win, then easily produced their second win in a 14-0 rout of the Breakers.  

Ronan found themselves in a 5-5 tie in game one against Loyola, heading into the seventh inning. In the seventh, the Maidens pounded Loyola, scoring nine runs in the inning and quickly turned a tight game into a blowout.  

Perhaps still stunned from Ronan’s nine inning seventh in game one, Loyola laid an egg in game two.  The Breakers again showed their inexperience and committed seven errors, while issuing nine walks, and the Maidens won easily, 14-0.

Danielle Richwine had a spectaular day for the Maidens, going 5-for-7 in the doubleheader.  Ronan improved their mark to 8-1 and will play Drummond on Thursday in Ronan.