(Atlantic) The Atlantic Softball team is off to an impressive start in the non-conference softball series. The Trojans downed Class 5A 7th-ranked Dowling Catholic on Friday, 8-3. On Monday evening, 10th-ranked Class 3A Atlantic defeated #13 Class 4A Bishop-Heelan, 9-1.
The 10th-ranked Class 3A Trojans received a dominant performance from Peyton McLaren in the circle. McLaren earned the win, allowing one unearned run on five hits while striking out four and walking none over five innings.
Atlantic scored nine runs on nine hits, led by London Kirchhoff, who finished a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBI. Claire Schroder added two hits, while Lila Wiederstein collected a hit, walked twice, and scored three runs. Jillian Saathoff went 1-for-3 with a run scored, and both Peyton McLaren and Kinsley Johnson contributed one hit apiece.
Bishop Heelan’s five hits came from Erin Fitzpatrick, Brooke Raymer, Emma Moody, Sophie Dannenbring, and Shannon Cleary.
Atlantic wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Wiederstein drew a leadoff walk in the first inning, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans broke the game open in the fourth. McLaren and Schroder opened the inning with consecutive singles before Johnson walked to load the bases. Dylin Ball lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score a run, Wiederstein followed with an RBI single, and London Kirchhoff capped the rally with a two-run double to extend the lead to 5-0.
Bishop Heelan scored its lone run in the fifth when Khayle Fulton reached on an error, and Raymer delivered an RBI single to center, trimming the deficit to 5-1.
Atlantic answered immediately with four more runs in the bottom of the inning. Saathoff led off with a single, Schroder followed with another base hit, and Johnson lined an RBI single to left. Schroder later scored on Ball’s groundout before Kirchhoff delivered a two-run single to complete the scoring and secure the 9-1 victory.
Atlantic will travel to face No. 1 Class 4A ADM next. The game will be broadcast on 95.7 FM and audio streamed on westerniowatoday.com.
Bishop Heelan returns home to host Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln.
