(Atlantic) On Friday evening, May 29, the 2016 Atlantic softball team was recognized for its historic season, which culminated in the program’s first-ever state tournament appearance. The Trojans finished the year with a 27-16 overall record and posted a 14-7 mark in conference play, good for third place behind Creston and Lewis Central.
Atlantic’s path to the state tournament in Fort Dodge was anything but easy. The Trojans opened regional play with an 11-0 victory over Red Oak in the Regional Quarterfinals.
The Regional Semifinal against Shenandoah proved to be a dramatic battle. Trailing by a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Atlantic tied the game when Catherine Leonard drove in Baylee Newell. The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Belicia Smith beat out an infield ground ball, allowing Newell to score the walk-off run and send the Trojans to the Regional Final.
Another close contest awaited in the Regional Final. Atlantic broke a tie in the bottom of the sixth inning after Reagan Pellet’s sacrifice bunt advanced Makenzie Waters to second base and then to third on a wild throw. Waters later scored on a ground ball by Gabby Jordahl, giving the Trojans the lead. The run proved to be the difference as Atlantic secured its first state tournament appearance in program history.
The Trojans fell short to top-ranked Davenport-Assumption in the first round of the state tournament, lost the second contest to CMB 3-0, and defeated Estherville-Lincoln Central 6-3, highlighted by a nine-strikeout performance by Ally Anderson to cap off the tournament with a third-place finish in the Class 3A State Tournament field.
The former players and Coaches attending the ceremony included (Photo L-R, Head Coach Terry Hinzmann, *Makenzie Waters, Alexis Derby, Baylee Newell, Karsyn Rush, *Alexis Handel, Ally Anderson, *Erin Olson, Brooke Newell, *Cheyenne Elliott, and Coach Michelle (McLaren) Blake.
*Denotes the players’ maiden names.
