Between three wins that have Marshfield softball sitting at 15-6, the Lady Jays nearly found a fourth in a 9-8 defeat to Glendale on Sept. 29.
The Jays could have been down-and-out trailing 8-2. But they managed to rally for a slim close loss against one of the toughest teams they’ve faced all season.
“We were using this game as a gauge to kind of see where we are, because they’ve beaten some people, and they’re a good team,” Marshfield head coach James McAnarney said. “I thought we never gave up, and I was proud of that because we could have folded the tent. [Starting pitcher] Macie Warren was the difference for us, honestly, to stay in it. Everything that went on around and behind her, she could have been done. But she stuck in there and kept us in the ball game.”
Marshfield made its rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. After loading the bases against opposing starter Anna Baker, Alaura Padgett drove one back to Baker that she couldn't hold onto for the first run of the inning, then Kirsten Ward’s ball hit to shallow center was dropped by the shortstop, scoring Halle Menzies to make it a four-run game.
From there, Macie Vestal hit a ball that trickled up the middle and into the grass that scored Padgett and Ally Harrison. Afterward, With Kiana Massie at the plate, the Lady Jays executed a double steal that saw Audrey Odell safe at home, making it 8-7.
Able to get a run back in the top of the sixth, Glendale was pressed again in the bottom of the frame. Ward singled to left with one out, then Hayleigh Cantrell singled before Vestal got under a ball and lifted it to deep left that scored the pinch-running Odell.
Unfortunately for the Jays, senior Riley King came on in relief at that point and stranded both runners with two more outs, then induced a double play to help preserve the win for the Falcons.
The only losses for Marshfield this year have come to teams with winning records, including several who are state-ranked. At the same time, the offense is scoring 10.9 runs per game, the most since MSHSAA's website started keeping track, which dates back over a dozen seasons.
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