The Clinton Prairie Softball team won the Sectional 54 Championship on Friday, defeating Carroll 12-1.
“It seems like every year it comes down to Carroll versus us,” head coach Bryan Craig said. “We knew they were going to be a team to beat. Early on in the season, we took care of business against them and just kind of set the tone early. We were able to get it done again in the conference tournament, and I think (Friday) that played to our advantage because our girls knew what to expect, they knew the team, and how to attack each hitter. It is difficult to beat a team three times, but when you’re as passionate and involved as our girls, they viewed it as just another challenge and another opportunity.”
The Gophers jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage in the top of the first, which set the tone the rest of the way.
Clinton Prairie added a run in the second, four in the fourth, and two more in the fifth before closing the game out in five.
Sadie Weliver capped off a string of strong starts in Sectionals by throwing a complete game and striking out four.
“She’s a competitor, and she wants the ball in her hands,” Craig said about Weliver. “I think that’s the biggest compliment I can give Sadie. She wants to be the girl in the circle; she wants the team to rely on her, but she also trusts her team. She knows what kind of pitcher she is and doesn’t try to do too much.”
Weliver pitched all three games in the sectional round and combined to give up just three runs while putting up 21 strikeouts.
Throughout the season, the mix of talented young freshmen and experienced upperclassmen has led to the Gophers’ success.
Freshman Alexis Perez recorded three RBIs on two hits, while senior Kadie Fearnow and juniors Brenna Riley and Weliver all collected multi-hit games.
The title marks Clinton Prairie’s first Sectional Championship since 2010, and they’ll have a chance to continue their run against Riverton Parke on Tuesday in the Regional Championship
