BUCYRUS — Like Philip Pirrip in Charles Dickens’ novel, both Galion and Bucyrus softball teams entered the season with great expectations.

The Lady Tigers advanced to the regional tournament last year and the Lady Redmen shared a Northern 10 Athletic Conference title with Carey.

So, Saturday’s season-opener came with much anticipation on both sides.

Galion overcame an early 1-0 deficit and rode the pitching of Madelyn Thomas to a 4-1 victory in a game that was moved to Bucyrus due to field conditions.

“We started off a little sluggish but Madelyn, she settled down and pitched a great game for us,” Galion coach Doug Hunt said. “And the bats came alive, so it’s all good.”

Thomas walked Bucyrus leadoff hitter Lauren Kohler, who then stole second. Kohler scored on a one-out single by Alexis Dye.

It was the only hit the Redmen would muster against Thomas, who struck out 16 and walked only two.

“We’re talking about a regional (semi)final team (last year) and Galion’s a great ball club,” Bucyrus coach Pudge Hargis said. “That pitcher did some great things out there.”

For three innings, Redmen starter Caleigh Rister matched pitches with Thomas, facing one over the minimum, a lead-off triple by Kate Schieber in the second. Gabby Kaple had led off the first with a bunt single but was thrown out stealing.

While Thomas continued to put up goose eggs, the Tigers’ offense finally got untracked in the fourth. With one out, Nevaeh Clark singled and went to third on an error.

Schieber followed with a hard shot to the infield that was misplayed, plating Clark. Schieber moved up on a single by Emily Sedmak and scored on another single by Teanna Greter.

It was all Thomas would need who seems to thrive under pressure.

“I like pressure situations. Ask anybody,” Thomas said. “Like bases loaded, I like the pressure. I think it helps playing quality teams, especially going into (Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference) games. It’s good to play good teams.”

The Tigers added two insurance runs in the fifth. Kaple doubled to left with one out. Emily McDonald sacrificed her to third. McDonald was safe and Kaple scored when the throw skipped past the first baseman.

McDonald went to second on the play, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on Clark’s ground out to short.

“There was a little slicing out there once we got started,” Hunt said referring to several opposite field hits by his team. “We like to play a little bit of small ball, but it didn’t present itself like we wanted it to.”

After surrendering the run in the first inning, Thomas retired 19 consecutive Bucyrus batters before walking pinch hitter Autumn Hensley with two outs in the seventh.

“She’s been working hard this year,” Hunt said of his junior flamethrower. “I don’t think she warmed up enough, but she came out, settled down and went to work.”

“These are so exciting,” Thomas said of opening-day games. “I was so excited for this season. I knew my defense was really good behind me. They give me a lot of confidence.”

“I’m happy with our kids with everything but the bat,” Hargis said. “We did a poor job with the bat. I do know the kids played hard, they played through it. Now, we have to get smarter at the plate on what the pitcher’s giving us and we’ve got to get a little more aggressive.”

Kaple led the Tigers with two hits including a double and Greter had two singles. Schieber had a triple, while Clark and Sedmak had singles. Kaple, McDonald, Clark and Schieber scored.

Rister struck out 11 and walked no one for Bucyrus. Two of the four runs she gave up were unearned.

“They moved up to the front of the box on Caleigh and got on her,” Hargis said. “I know Caleigh’s got more movement (on the ball) than we saw today, and I don’t know if the weather played a part or what. I’m assuming you will see her get better as the year goes on.”

The Bucyrus non-league schedule doesn’t get easier, by design.

“Any time you can start with good competition, it’s a plus for us,” Hargis said. “We’ve got another game with (Galion, today), we’ve got Madison coming up, we’ve got Lex on our schedule and we did that purposely so that we know we get better.”

Galion won the second game of the doubleheader, 10-0. Freshman Ashley Davis took the loss for the Redmen and Thomas got the win for the Tigers.

Box score

Bucyrus    100 000 0      1    1    4

Galion      000 220 X      4    7    1

WP: Madelyn Thomas (16 SO, 2 W)

LP: Caleigh Rister (11 SO, 0 W)

HR: None.

Triples: (G) Kate Schieber.

Doubles: (G) Gabby Kaple.

Multiple hits: (G) Kate Schieber, Teanna Greter.

Records: Bucyrus 0-1; Galion 1-0.

Next: Bucyrus at Mansfield Madison, Monday; Galion at Elgin, Monday.