Olivia Engler was nearly perfect.  Only a bat handle bloop single that didn’t even reach the outfield grass stood between Engler and a perfect game as Atlantic beat MOC-Floyd Valley 5-0 Monday night to win the Class 3-A Region 2 Final.

Atlantic coach Terry Hinzmann said he could see early on that his starting pitcher was locked in.

Engler struck out nine and only faced one batter over the minimum to lead Atlantic to a 33-5 record and their first state tournament berth since 2018.  The defense was solid behind Engler as well, making a number of solid plays.  Engler said she was well aware in the sixth inning that she was working on something special.

Offensively, Malena Woodward got things started by belting a first inning home run to give Atlantic the only run they would need.  She talks about her focus at the plate.

They added single runs in the second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

Woodward also doubled and scored in the fifth inning.  Jada Jensen doubled twice, driving in one and scoring once.  Lauren Nicolas had two hits, including an RBI double and also scored once.  Kennedy Goergen also doubled and scored for Atlantic.

Kady Hoekstra had the only hit for the Dutch, that sixth inning bloop.

Carlin Smith took the loss for the Dutch allowing all five runs, four earned, with eight hits.  MOC-Floyd Valley ends the season with a 17-15 record.