The Atlantic Trojans softball team is heading to the State Tournament in Fort Dodge for the second time in program history, and the second time in three years. The Trojans were able to earn their place in the Class 3A State Tournament with a Region 4 Final win over Clarke 2-1.

It was quickly paced game with mostly solid defensive play but the few miscues are what made the difference. Atlantic got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with Ally Anderson driving in Alexis Handel who singled to get on with two out. Anderson hit what went down as a triple after a shot to the corner got by the right fielder. Those two hits were the only damaging ones from either team for a long time. The Trojans came away empty with runners on at second and third with just one out in the 4th.

Then came the 6th inning. Clarke led off with a Sidney Marker single, got another runner aboard with a bunt by Emma Bolton that included an Atlantic rotation miscue, and advanced the runners over with a ground out. Audrey Kindred then executed a squeeze nicely to bring Marker home to tie the game at one. But that’s all the Indians would get across as Ally Anderson forced a couple of ground-outs to end the threat.

The Trojans would answer back in the bottom half of the inning. Alyssa Derby led off with a single down the third base line. Alexis Handel flew out to center on a deep hit. Then Ally Anderson came through with a huge double that nearly lined out of the park and hit off the left field fence. That put runners at 2nd and 3rd again with just one out. That’s when the defining miscue of the game occurred. Reagen Pellett appeared to strike out but Indians catcher Audrey Kindred dropped the ball and Pellett was able to attempt to get to first. Kindred then instinctively chose to throw to first, allowing Alyssa Derby to take off for home and get across to give Atlantic a 2-1 lead. A fly out by Olvia Engler then ended the inning. Clarke was unable to get anything going in the 7th and went down in order to send Atlantic to Fort Dodge.

After the game Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann talked about the great effort from Ally Anderson against a good hitting Clarke team.

Atlantic came up just shy of getting to state last season and Coach Hinzmann said the girls talked at their first meeting of the season about not letting that happen again.

Atlantic third baseman Alexis Handel talked about that decisive 6th inning.

Handel talked about the feelings the team had about state tournament goals way before the season started.

Winning pitcher Ally Anderson allowed one run on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts and no walks. After the game she talked about how good it felt to get the job done.

Atlantic improved to 30-5 with the win and will head to the Class 3A State Tournament next week. Alexis Watson took the loss for Clarke allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 1 strikeout and 1 hit batter. Clarke ends their season with a 17-14 record.