Vienna — Spring Break is set to begin next week, but the Madison High girls’ softball team got an early start in Spring Break tournament play with the first game of its own `Madison Spring Tournament’ last Thursday, March 22 versus Mount Vernon High.
Even with Madison being the tournament host, Thursday’s game took place at Mount Vernon High. There, just off the Route 1 corridor in Alexandria, Madison defeated the home team Majors, 4-1. Mount Vernon gave Madison all it could handle, but the Warhawks were able to escape with the victory over Mount Vernon, a member of the National District.
Madison’s bats accounted for seven hits throughout the game. Tori Lipnicky (2 RBIs), Elizabeth Fallas, and Kelsey Ross each had two hits to lead the attack, with Fallas hitting a double and a triple, and Ross contributing a triple. Kristyn Buscemi and Jackie Yahner each had an RBI for the Warhawks.
Ross started the game in the pitching circle and earned the win, giving up one hit and striking out two in four innings of work. Fallas pitched the final three innings, also giving up only one hit while striking out four. Mount Vernon's lone run was unearned.
Two days earlier, on Tuesday, March 20, Madison defeated Fairfax High, 9-1, in both teams’ Liberty District opener. Madison, in the game at Fairfax, jumped out to an early lead, plating six runs in the second inning. Fallas, a sophomore, earned the win by pitching four strong innings, giving up three hits while striking out four and walking one. Ross pitched the last three innings, giving up two hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
Madison senior Ally Grasso led the offense, reaching base five times, the result of three hits and two base-on-balls. She also drove in three runs. Also for the Warhawks, junior Brittany Powers went 2-for-4 with an RBI; Lipnicky knocked in a pair of runs; and both Kristyn Buscemi and Jackie Yahner had a base hit and RBI.