Clarke’s softball team has faced some challenging moments early in the season.
Lady Indians coach Lindsay Diehl likes how the team is responding to them.
The Lady Indians went 2-1 to start the first week of the new season.
Clarke opened the season with a wild 19-6, six inning win at Chariton Wednesday in South Central Conference play. The Lady Indians fell to ADM 5-3 on Thursday, then ended the week with a 14-4, five-inning win over Centerville Friday.
The Lady Indians scored first against Chariton, but then gave up two runs in the bottom of the first to trail 2-1 after an inning.
Clarke responded with three in the fourth and three in the fifth for an 8-2 lead.
Chariton answered back with four runs, cutting the lead to 8-6.
Clarke’s bats owned the top of the sixth, plating 11 runs.
Having a league game to start the season was not ideal in Diehl’s mind.
The Lady Indians made it count.
“That was a statement game for us,” Diehl said. “It’s always fun to go over to Chariton.”
Clarke’s bats finished with 19 hits, including three doubles and a home run. Sydnee Redman showed she can swing an effective softball bat to go with her strong tennis skills as well. Redman was 2-for-4 with a home run and five driven in. CeJay Blakeley was 3-for-3 with five driven in.
“I know what our bats are capable of,” Diehl said.
Against ADM, a four-run fourth inning turned a 2-0 Clarke lead into a 4-2 Lady Indians deficit.
The Tigers added a run in the sixth.
ADM had a shot for more in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs.
Vanessa Bakley made two tough plays to the plate for outs, and eventually Clarke escaped.
“We work on that in practice all the time, but not often use them in a game,” Diehl said, noting catcher Sadie Marker made a couple of fine catches to be able to step on the plate in time for the outs.
“It’s good to see kids get out of jams like that,” Diehl said.
Clarke had a big threat in the sixth, but came away empty handed.
Diehl believes the more the Lady Indians face tough situations, they can handle them.
“We put ourselves in a position to score,” Diehl said. “To see the kids mentally bounce back — that was huge.”
ADM was a team Diehl likes to see on the Clarke schedule.
“I love having them on our schedule because we know we’re always going to get a good ball game,” Diehl said. “We put ourselves in good positions. We’re going to come out on the other side of those situations. The more you put yourselves in those situations, the more confident you gain and know that when you can get in those situations, we’re going to end up on the other side.”
Sarah Davis drove in both of Clarke’s runs.
Against Centerville, the Lady Indians scored five in the first, three in the second, two in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Redman was 3-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs. Bakley had two hits, drove in two and scored three times. Lexy Carson was 1-for-3 with two driven in.