(Atlantic) Claire Pellett and Zoey Kirchhoff’s home runs lead Atlantic over Shenandoah 3-0 in a Class 3A Region 4 semifinal at Atlantic on Saturday night.
Pellett stepped to the plate in the bottom of the third inning and belted a solo shot over the left field fence to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead. Zoey Kirchhoff laced a single and scored on a wild pitch in the fourth to give the Trojans a two-run cushion. Kirchhoff appeared at the plate again in the sixth inning and belted a solo shot over the left field fence to put the Trojans up 3-0, which eventually became final.
Riley Wood was solid in the circle again for the Trojans. The Junior right-hander, now 16-5 on the season, allowed no runs on six hits, struck out six, and no walks.
The Trojans scored three runs on five hits. Kirchhoff went 2-3 with a home run and a single. Claire Pellett was one for three with the big blast over the left-center field fence, Claire Schroder, leading the team with a .389 batting average, did not disappoint. The freshman’s approaches at the plate were solid again, with two singles in three at-bats.
Shenandoah played well. Peyton Athen pitched a solid game allowing three runs on five hits. Other than the two long balls, Athen pitched six complete innings allowing three runs on five hits, and the support around her played nearly errorless defense.
The Fillies scattered six hits in the contest but lacked a timely hit. Caroline Rogers hit a single, and Jenna Burdorg reached base on an error but were stranded in the third. Kylie Foutch and Lexi Schebaum smacked back-to-back singles in the fourth inning and were left on base. Jenna Burdorf, Caroline Rogers, Peyton Athen, Kylie Foutch, Lexi Schebaum, and Abbey Dumler singled for the Fillies.
The Trojans move to (23-15) and play Davis County on Tuesday night for a trip to the State Softball Tournament. Shenandoah finishes the year with a record of (11-19).
Videos of Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann, Claire Pellett, and Zoey Kirchhoff will be posted soon.
