Clarke’s offense was revved up and ready to go, and no engine was roaring louder than Audrey Kindred’s.
The Lady Indians grabbed an easy 11-1 win over PCM in six innings to open Class 3A Region 4 play Tuesday as Kindred smashed two hits in three at-bats and piled on four RBIs.
The win paved the way for a 6-2 home win over Chariton Friday that sent Clarke to Monday’s regional final at Atlantic.
Kindred poked hard grounders up the middle in the first and second inning, the first of which scored a run and the second of which scored two more.
“Audrey really has been producing for us at the plate,” Clarke coach Lindsay Diehl said. "I love when she comes up when we’ve got runners in scoring position. She’s been making a point to get some extra cuts in over in the cage.”
Kindred drove in Sidney Marker, who scored three runs, several times twice and Kindred's doubled in the third helped break the game wide open.
“I believe in myself a lot more and I’m more patient,” Kindred said while noting that she has brought a lot more energy to support her teammates on the field as of late. "I’ve been working more. I have a hitting cage out in my shop and I spend 30 minutes out there (each night).”
Clarke scored two runs in the first, four more in the second and five in the third.
Chynna Beydler was 2-for-3 and drove in two runs. Emma Bolton went 2-4 with two runs scored. Ashlynn Oehlert was 2-3 with a stolen base and scored twice from the bottom of the lineup.
Sadie Marker, Bolton, Sarah Davis and CeJay Blakely each scored twice. Blakely drove in two runs without a hit.
Both Markers drove in a run each.
With this much production, Clarke heads into its Monday evening regional final feeling good.
Few felt as great as Kindred.
“I just have confidence for everybody and I’m just loud for everybody like I’d like for them to be loud for me," Kindred said.
Alexis Watson was on top of her game in the circle, allowing only one run in the fifth, surrendered four hits and struck out nine Mustangs. She escaped from several early situations with runners on by buckling down and hitting her called spots.
“She’s kind of a kid when she goes and she’s on, we’re pretty tough because she has got so much movement on her ball,” Diehl said.
Clarke moved to 16-13 with the win and 17-13 with the win over Chariton Friday.
