Photo by Caleb Brinton Madelia catcher Miah Garza fields a chopper and throws to first during a Valley Division baseball game with Martin County West on Thursday at the Fox Lake Area Sports Complex in Welcome.

By Caleb Brinton

sports@nujournal.com

WELCOME — Despite the rain, the Martin County West Mavericks took to the field against Madelia on Thursday, but a seven-run second inning was too much of a deficit to overcome as the Mavericks fell 14-3 in a Tomahawk-Valley Conference, Valley Division baseball game.

The game was called in five innings due to the 10-run lead rule.

“I think it honestly could have been a lot worse,” said MCW head coach Jon Traetow. “Obviously, it’s not ideal baseball weather, but we played worse in better weather. Regardless, you still gotta show up. You still gotta the game. You still have 17 inches to throw the baseball over. You gotta execute. It doesn’t matter what the weather’s doing. You’ve got to do you.”

The Blackhawks also defeated the Mavericks on April 10 in Searles.

Leading the Mavericks (2-5, 0-4) was Maddex Faber, who went 2 for 2 with an RBI, and Lucas Larson added an RBI. Brenan Ringnell got the start and took the loss on the mound for the Mavericks, allowing six hits and eight runs in one inning. Liam Pytleiski pitched in relief and struck out two in three innings, while Faber struck out two in one inning.

Stat leaders for Madelia (6-2, 2-2) were Tate Becker, who went 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Miah Garza went 2 for 3 with five RBIs. Blayne Wilde went 1 for 3 with an RBI, while Conner Rathman went 1 for 2 with an RBI. Dalton Tatro got the win on the mound, giving up three runs through three innings. Noel Davila pitched two innings in relief and struck out five while allowing one hit and three walks.

Madelia got on base early, gaining two base runners in two at-bats. Garza stepped to the plate and looped a ball out to center field, which found its way by Jacob Wilmes’ glove for an RBI double that put Madelia up 2-0 with no outs. A wild pitch that got behind catcher Jerry Olson allowed Garza to score, extending the Madelia lead, but a single to third by Wilde put Madelia up 4-0 before the Mavericks could get out of the inning. Madelia retired the side to close the first inning.

A leadoff single for Madelia opened the second inning, which was followed by a walk that put two on base before Davila drove a ground ball to short, bringing in the fifth run of the game. Jacobs laid down a bunt to bring home the runner at third and kept the scoring going. Another run scored on a pitch that made it to the backstop to put Madelia up 7-0. A fly ball by Rathman to right field brought in two more runs for Madelia. The Mavericks gave up three more runs before a flyout gave MCW the chance to get its offense going.

Down 12-0, the Mavericks got to work. A leadoff single by Faber was followed by a walk to Preston Cepress, putting Faber in scoring position. Wilmes then laid down a bunt and loaded the bases, which set up Faber on third. A pickoff attempt to second allowed Faber to come home and put the first run on the board for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks’ defense found its footing on the drenched diamond and held Madelia to one run in the top of the third. Meixell’s lead-off double in the bottom of the inning set up the MCW offense to start chipping away at the Madelia lead when Larson put a ball on the ground back to the pitcher to bring home Meixell. With the score at 12-2, Faber sent the ball high in the air to right field for an RBI single.

With two on base in the top of the fourth, two walks put runners in scoring position for Madelia before a fielding error allowed two runs to score, putting the score to 14-3. The game became a defensive battle for the last inning and a half. The Mavericks stranded three runners in the bottom of the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Madelia got two on base right away, but the MCW defense held firm and did not allow a run to score. The Madelia defense returned the favor, stranding two on base, closing the game with back-to-back strikeouts.

The Mavericks host Cleveland for a 4:30 p.m. game on Tuesday. Madelia hosts Granada-Huntley-East Chain/Truman/Martin Luther on Friday in Searles.