A season that began with a 1-4 record and various uncertainties, steadied and developed into first a district champion and now a third straight region crown for the Madison Warhawks.
The girls high-school softball team won its 17th region title in program history by rallying from an early 2-0 deficit to defeat the South Lakes Seahawks, 7-4, in the championship game at Madison the night of May 30 in the 6D North Region tournament. The victory was the 19th in a row for the Warhawks (20-4).
“Before our season, I thought if we could have a .500 record that would be good,” Madison coach Jim Adkins said. “We had a whole new infield and a lot of new starters and questions. In time, this team started hitting well and has learned to do what it has to do to win. We don’t count on one star player.”
Senior right-hander Ava Livingston was the winning pitcher in the region final, going the distance to strike out nine, while allowing five hits and three earned runs. After giving up two runs on three hits in the second inning that gave South Lakes a 2-0 lead, she then retired nine straight batters over the next three frames.
“We stayed together after we fell behind and our coaches gave us confidence. We started playing with more energy,” Livingston said. “We’ve been behind before this season.”
Madison took the lead with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the third and added two more each in the fourth and fifth innings. The Warhawks had eight hits, with Sofia Marshall and Lucy Griepentrog having two each, with an RBI.
Allison Creighton hit a solo homer for Madison and Ayla Condill, Adhya Penati (one RBI) and Amelia Deborja all had one hit. Tatum Novak had a sacrifice fly and Penati a sacrifice bunt. Condill, Riley Brick and Johanna Hostetler drew walks.
“We anticipated a close game,” Marshall said. “I got a little nervous, but we are a good hitting team. So it was just a matter of putting it together after we fell behind. Our coaches kept encouraging us.”
Madison hitters struck out just three times.
“We felt we didn’t start well like we can, but we stuck with it, made some adjustments and started stringing some hits together. That’s what it takes, it’s just a matter of time sometimes,” Adkins said. “South Lakes was ready and played us tough.”
Madison was 3-0 in the region tournament, improving its three-year winning streak in the competition to nine. The Warhawks hung on to nip the defending Class 6 state champion McLean Highlanders, 6-5, in the semifinals and downed Yorktown, 8-1, in the first round. Madison defeated McLean in last season’s region-championship game.
Adkins said a key turning point in the season came during a spring-break trip to Myrtle Beach, following the 1-4 start. On that trip, Madison won its final three contests to begin its 19-game victory string.
“We got a big comeback win in one of those games, and that gave us a lot of confidence,” Adkins said. “That sort of got the ball rolling.”
Madison now advances to the Virginia High School League’s Class 6 state tournament, where it finished second last season. There were scheduled to play a first-round game on June 4.