RONAN — In their first two contests of the regular season, the Ronan Maidens showed that they’ll be a contender in Class B/C for the long haul.

On Tuesday, March 27, ace Bethany Colman fired a two-hitter and added a base hit, Ashleigh Lynch went 3-3 with an RBI and the Maidens invoked the 10-run rule, downing the visiting Deer Lodge Lady Wardens 11-1.

The Lady Wardens clawed a run out of Colman in the first, but would be shut down from there. Meanwhile, Ronan waited until the second time through the order to do damage.

Down 1-0 entering the bottom of the third, the Maidens exploded for seven runs, providing more than enough cushion for Colman. The senior went five innings, allowing just a pair of hits and three walks while striking out 10.

Ronan added a run in the fourth inning to go ahead 8-1. In the bottom of the fifth, with the bases loaded and two outs, Payge DeLaurenti cleared the sacks with a double, ending the game on the spot. DeLaurenti had four RBIs on the afternoon, while Turquoise Haggard went 2-3 with a pair of RBIs and Alaina Madsen added a single and an RBI. Lindsay Clairmont notched a pair of hits as well for the Maidens.

Two days later, one rough inning did the home team in, as Class A Hamilton dealt Ronan its first loss of the year, 12-2.

The Maidens led 2-0 in the first inning and had a golden opportunity to add more with the bases loaded and just one out, but the Lady Broncs’ Rebecka Hood escaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts.

Ronan held the two-run lead until the third, when things unraveled for Colman. The first four hitters reached for Hamilton, one of whom scored, before Colman recorded a strikeout. After an RBI single tied the game, Hamilton launched a grand slam, taking a 6-2 lead. Five batters later, with two out, the Lady Broncs hit their second grand slam of the inning, giving the guests a 10-2 edge.

Colman settled down in the fourth, recording a pair of strikeouts, and watched as her teammates started another rally. Unfortunately, with the bases loaded and one out again, Ronan couldn’t get a run in. 

Hamilton scored twice in the next half inning and Hood sat down the Maidens in order to earn the victory.

The 1-1 Maidens turned their attention to their Lake County foe, the MAC Bulldogs, on Tuesday, but results were unavailable at press time.