(Atlantic) On July 9, 2018, (29-5) and #7 Atlantic hosted (17-13) Clarke of Osceola in a Class 3A Regional Final. At stake was a trip to the State Softball Tournament.
Atlantic advanced after a win over Shenandoah, and an 8-2 victory over Creston in the Regional semi-finals. Clarke defeated Prairie City, Monroe, and Chariton to advance.
The teams were quite familiar with each other. Clarke defeated Atlantic 9-2 in the Creston Tournament one month to the day before this Match-up.
Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann says this squad hadn’t forgotten about the heartbreaking 3-2 loss to West Marshall in the Regional finals one year ago. He said that loss served as a motivation factor for this team during the 2018 season, by the amount of hard work his squad put in during the off-season.
Hinzmann says the most significant difference in the game was Atlantic pitcher Ally Anderson’s performance in the circle and at the plate. Anderson allowed one run on four hits, struck out two, and didn’t walk a batter.
The Trojans grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Alexis Handel singled and scored on Ally Anderson’s triple.
The Trojans responded in the bottom of the frame on an unusual play to take the lead. Alyssa Derby singled and advanced to third on Anderson’s double. Reagan Pellett stepped to the plate with two on and one out. Pellett, a sophomore at the time, swung and missed for strike three, but the Indians catcher dropped the ball, giving Pellet the green light to run to first base on the dropped third strike. During the throw, Derby bolted for home plate to put Atlantic up to 2-1 going into the top of the 7th inning.
The Trojans headed into the top of the 7th needed three outs to win. Coach Hinzmann remembers his short conversation with his pitcher Ally Anderson.
The Trojans scored two runs on five hits. Ally Anderson and Alexis Handel lead the Trojans at the plate. Anderson belted a single and a double and drove home one of the Trojans two runs. Handel finished the night 2-3, and Alyssa Derby was 1-3.
The game will be re-aired on Saturday morning, May 23, starting at 9:00 a.m. on 95.7 FM.
