A wild 9-8 district victory over Pauls Valley proved to be Madill’s lone softball triumph against a rugged slate last week.
The youthful Lady Wildcats lost four straight to close the week, including a doubleheader against Sulphur, to slip to a 1-7 record in the early season.
Against Pauls Valley, a fast start propelled Madill to the triumph as they pushed across four runs in the first stanza to erase a 2-0 deficit.
Dahlia Marris coaxed a lead off walk and came around to score on a one-out double off the bat of Ireland Groeber. Back-to-back free passes to Jade Soto and Laila Pickens drove in a second run aheadofaBrooklynWashington hit that plated two more.
Following a scoreless top of the second, Madill got back on the board with a two-out flurry as Marris singled, stole second and scored on a Lauren Campbell hit that made it 5-2.
Pauls Valley narrowed the gap by scoring a run in the third inning ahead of the Lady Wildcats pushing the margin nearly out of reach.
Tillie Chapa, Chloe Miller and Marris all singled to start the frame with Groeber knocking two others home on a single to right field.
Whatlookedlikeapossibly inconsequential run for Madill in the sixth proved fairly decisive in the seventh as they had to hold off the Lady Panthers. Groeber scored on the back end of a double steal attempt with two outs for the Lady Wildcats.
Pauls Valley closed to within 9-8 in the final stanza but Marris enticed a line out and posted a strikeout to end the game.
Marris went the distance in the pitching circle, managing seven innings with just two earned runs while striking out five and walking five.
Groeber tallied two hits and drove in three runs while scoring twice. Marris also pitched in two hits and scored three times in the leadoff slot. Campbell, Pickens, Washington, Chapa and Miller all had one hit.