ATLANTIC – The Atlantic softball team’s offense was firing on all cylinders in a 9-2 Regional Semifinal victory over Unity Christian on Saturday night. The Trojans pounded out 13 hits, scored in five of the game’s seven innings, and backed another complete-game effort from pitcher Peyton McLaren to advance to Tuesday’s regional final.
Atlantic’s lineup produced hits throughout the order. Jillian Saathoff led the way by going 3-for-4 with three singles, while Claire Schroder finished with a single, a double, and three RBI. London Kirchhoff went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Zoey Kirchhoff added two hits, and Lila Wiederstein reached base in all four plate appearances, finishing 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Alivia Knuth and Dylin Ball each contributed a single.
McLaren earned the win in the circle, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out two and walking none over seven innings.
Atlantic wasted little time taking control. Wiederstein opened the bottom of the first with a single before Makenna Schroeder reached on an error, allowing Wiederstein to score. Later in the inning, London Kirchhoff delivered an RBI single to plate Schroeder and give the Trojans a 2-0 lead.
Unity Christian got on the board in the second when Jenna Scholten drove in a run with a groundout, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Trojans answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. McLaren led off with a triple, and consecutive singles by Knuth and Ball helped Atlantic extend its lead to 4-1.
The Knights scored once in the third to make it 4-2, but Atlantic responded again. Saathoff drilled a single and later scored on Claire Schroder’s RBI base rip, restoring the Trojans’ three-run advantage at 5-2.
Atlantic added two more runs in the fourth after Wiederstein and Schroder drew leadoff walks, and both eventually scored, pushing the lead to 7-2.
Schroder put the game out of reach in the sixth with a two-run double that stretched the lead to 9-2, and McLaren retired the Knights in the seventh to complete the victory.
No. 8 Atlantic (33-6) will travel to No. 6 Van Meter (31-6) on Tuesday in the Class 3A Regional Final, with a trip to the state tournament on the line.
Atlantic senior catcher Lila Wiederstein had these comments following the win on Thursday
Atlantic senior Zoey Kirchhoff had this to say after the game.
Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann’s comments are posted below.
