The Madison Night Mares had a dominant home opener victory over the Wausau Ignite June 9.
The Mares scored three homers in the 12-0 routing of their in-state rival. The team looks to be leaving right where they left off from last year’s championship season.
The Night Mares are Madison’s very own Northwoods League Softball team (NWLS). The NWLS is the first for-profit Women’s summer collegiate softball league, entering its second season in the summer of 2025.
Each team recruits 18 collegiate players from NCAA softball teams to play for the summer season. The Mares roster is composed of some of the best college talents from Wisconsin, California, Texas, and other states across the country.
That talent was on full display in the very first at-bat of the 2026 season. Ava Caroll, a junior from the University of Washington, quickly got on base. She was brought home by reigning league MVP Hillary Bloomberg with an RBI double.
Bloomberg headlines the star-studded roster as one of three Wisconsin Badgers on the team alongside juniors Addie Bloomberg and Dani Lucey.
The Mares continued to run up the score before the Ignite were able to record an out. Bloomberg ran home after another RBI double, this time from Gretta Grassel of Mississippi State University.
Soon after, first baseman Tele Jenkins blew the game wide open with a two-run homer, putting Madison up 4-0. The University of Arizona junior and California native spoke after the game about her experience with the team this summer.
“The girls have been so nice and welcoming since I got here; the fans are amazing,” Jenkins said. “This is a very good environment to do well in and see the fans and the crowd and everything.”
Madison widened the deficit in the third inning as Kyra Smith of Colorado State University blasted a solo home run, and Blomberg added her first homer of the season.
The Mares’ stellar hitting came alongside an airtight defense.
Leila Ammon, the sophomore pitcher from Mississippi State, only allowed one hit in her 3 innings pitched.
The Florida native shut out the Ignite with the help of shortstop MicKayla Tosch and center fielder Ahmari Braden.
Tosch showed steady composure on any infield ball that came her way and Braden showed off her speed with a dazzling catch in the 4th inning.
The Night Mares’ exciting play is accompanied by a passionate community fanbase.
Warner Park, also known as the ‘Duck Pond’ as the longtime home of the Madison Mallards baseball team, offers a variety of activities for all ages. The Mares have a plethora of fun trivia, activities, and fun music in between the innings.
The Duck Pond also has a unique artwork above its seating with a 20,000-square-foot project made up of small fabric strips called the ‘Light Wings.’ The artwork gives the stadium a colorful tint that shines beautifully in golden hour.
Madison went on the road to sweep the Minot Honeybees by scores of 13-0, 18-4 and 13-5. They return to Warner Park on Monday for a doubleheader against the Ignite beginning at 5:05 p.m.
