Dodgers Softball Falls to Powerhouse Pequannock

When Madison first faced Pequannock (15-3) on April 9, they were ten-run ruled after the sixth inning, losing 14-0. The result of their Monday afternoon game was similar, with the Golden Panthers finishing on top after four and a half innings, 17-2.

This time, however, Madison saw more production from their offense than the first match-up, and Nicole Iannarone started the game off with a hard hit triple over the right fielder's head.

"I've been in a slump," said Iannarone. "Last practice I was hitting really well and I guess it worked…my dad helped me out a lot."

Madison was put out of commission quickly on Monday, after the Golden Panthers scored four in the first inning and ten in the second, then removed most of their starting players. The Dodgers remained scoreless until the top of the fifth, when they scored their only two runs.

The first came from sophomore Sam Spelker's first varsity hit. She has only had a few varsity at-bats this year, but her first hit, a single to shallow right field, scored Kelli Scotti for the first Madison run of the game.

"It felt good," said Spelker. "I was surprised. I was just hoping to foul off a couple times. It took me a couple seconds to realize before I started to run."

The second run came with the bases loaded and Rosalyn Blake on third. The catcher threw down to first and Blake decided to go for it.

"I was in the mood to run," said Blake. "What was the worst that could happen? I just took advantage of their error."

Just scoring on a team as good as the Golden Panthers can seem like a victory to some.

"It's been two years since we scored on them," said Madison's head coach Hector Martinez. "But two years ago, we lost to them three times by one run."

The Dodgers have now lost five straight games, and have not seen a win since their match-up against Dover on April 23. Their next game is against Morris Catholic, a team that the Dodgers came close to beating on earlier this season.