The Raiders overwhelmed the Rams, who were without their starting pitcher, to easily improve to 11-3 in the HOIC and 19-6 overall. The 19 victories set a new program record for wins in the season, topping the 18 earned by last year's team.
Abby Maher went 2-for-3 with a triple and she scored three times, while Hannah Paul drove in four runs to pace CMB on offense. Jordan Maher also scored three times for the Raiders, Jessica Birchmier scored twice and added two steals, Katelyn Findlay was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, Emily McQuiston doubled in a run and Zeah Peterson had one RBI for the Raiders at the plate.
Jessica Robinett pitched the entire game to earn the victory for CMB. She allowed two earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
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The Raiders (18-6) rallied from a 3-0 deficit to top Madrid by a score of 5-3 in the title game to avenge a loss to the Tigers in last year's tournament championship. CMB scored all five of its runs with two outs, while pitcher Jessica Robinett shut out Madrid over the final four innings to help the Raiders match the program record for victories in a season they set a year ago.
Senior second baseman Jordan Maher had the big hit of the game for CMB in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and runners on first and second, Maher ripped a pitch out the outside corner by Madrid's Sarah Kleinwort to the gap in right-center field.
The ball made it to the fence to score Jackie Coughenour and Abby Maher with the go-ahead runs. Jordan easily made it to third for a triple, and if it hadn't been for a great throw into the infield, she would have had an inside-the-park home run
"I've been having a lot of trouble with the outside (pitches), but I knew I just had to stay with it," Jordan Maher said. "It was nice to know I can hit it, especially with the tough pitchers we have coming up."
Jordan also had a two-out RBI single during CMB's three-run third inning that enabled the Raiders to tie the game. Jackie Coughenour doubled in Jessica Heidemann with two outs after Heidemann reached on an error, then Abby singled in Coughenour for the second run before Jordan's hit knocked in her younger sister to tie the game.
In the fifth, CMB did all of its damage with two outs again. Coughenour walked and Abby singled with two outs to set up Jordan's winning hit.
"When you get to the postseason, you're going to have to make those kinds of hits," CMB head coach Troy Houge said. "We did a good job of bearing down and coming up with two-out hits."
CMB made some early defensive and pitching mistakes that allowed Madrid to put its runs on the board.
In the top of the second inning, Jasey Zander drew a leadoff walk and scored on an RBI double by Lacey Zander off a misplayed ball in the outfield, giving Madrid a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, a wild pitch by Robinett was immediately followed by a Raider error to put two quick runs on the board for Madrid after Bethany Cairns was hit by a pitch and Clarissa Madison was safe on an infield hit to start the inning for the Tigers.
But Madrid only had three runners reach base over the next three innings as Robinett settled down and CMB played error-free ball during that stretch.
"They could've very easily folded up," Houge said of his team's tough start. "But they didn't and that shows a sign of maturity."
Madrid did make things interesting in the top of the seventh after Robinett gave up a one-out single and a two-out walk. The Tigers runners moved up to second and third, but Robinett calmly forced Taylor Bell to ground out to Abby at shortstop for the final out to end the game, giving CMB the tournament championship and some sweet revenge.
"Last year they had a really good team, but this year we were expected to win it," Jordan said. "We persevered and got the win - it feels good."
Jordan ended up 2-for-3 with three RBI and a steal against Madrid. Coughenour was 2-for-2 with a walk and she scored twice and tallied one steal and RBI apiece, while Abby singled and scored twice and added an RBI.
Robinett gave up six hits and she walked three batters while striking out two to earn the victory.
CMB opened the tournament by whipping Northeast Hamilton in five innings. The Raiders prevailed by a score of 10-0 as Brittany Moorman fired a no-hitter and CMB tallied 10 hits and steals apiece on offense.
Moorman fanned eight Northeast Hamilton batters to pick up the first no-hitter of her career
"I was really pleased with how she threw," Houge said. "She wants to be out there pitching."
Katelyn Findlay was the hitting star for CMB against Northeast Hamilton as she went 3-for-3 with a double, three runs, two steals and a pair of RBI. Jessica Heidemann was 2-for-2 with a walk, RBI and two runs and steals apiece, Emily McQuiston singled and drove in two runs, Jen Coughenour singled and scored twice and the Maher sisters combined for three hits, five steals and two runs.
CMB 5, Madrid 3
M 012 000 0 - 3 6 1
CMB 003 020 X - 6 9 1
M: Sarah Kleinwort and Allie Cataldo
CMB: Jessica Robinett and Zeah Peterson
WP: Robinett
LP: Kleinwort
2B: M - Lacey Zander; CMB - Jackie Coughenour
3B: CMB - Jordan Maher
