By Fred Solis
The Hutchinson Tribune
LAWRENCE—Andale-Garden Plain Indians’ seventh-inning rally fell short, 3-2, last Wednesday as they battled Wamego for a spot in the 4A state softball championship game in Lawrence.
The loss put the No. 6 seeded Indians (20-6) in line for the game for third place Thursday against No. 4 Rock Creek, but weather conditions forced the cancellation of the contest. The Kansas State High School Activities Association awarded both Andale-Garden Plain and Rock Creek with third place.
Fort Scott, the No. 1 seed, took the 4A state championship 6-0 over Wamego.
Wamego, the visiting team, was the No. 7 seed and batted first. The Red Raiders wasted little time as the lead-off batter doubled to center. The next batter singled, as did the third hitter, who drove in the first run of the game.
Indians Coach Erin Carney then made the switch, replacing starting pitcher Ryin Gibbens with Clare Krier, who pitched the rest of the way. The Red Raiders got one more run in the inning, charged to Gibbens, and loaded the bases before Krier turned them back with two runners left on base.
Krier kept the game close with four strikeouts, four hits, one walk, and one run while leaving five runners stranded. The Raiders’ lone run against her came in the seventh when the lead-off batter singled and scored on a two-out double to left.
“Clare came into our final game and pitched really well for us,” Carney said. “She limited baserunners, gave up very few hits, and trusted her defense to make plays behind her. She did exactly what we asked of her.
“Getting that experience pitching in a state tournament game will be valuable for her moving forward, and she was a huge part of our success all season long,” Carney added.
Meanwhile, Wamego pitcher Landri Adams shut out the Indians with 10 strikeouts and no hits through six innings. She kept the Indians off balance and off the base paths except for two walks, but the baserunners were left stranded.
Andale-Garden Plain spoiled Adams’ no-hit shutout in the seventh when Brooklyn Sele led off with a double to center. Coti Hiner followed with single to center, moving Sele to third. Rose Molitor then hit a sac fly to center to score Sele.
“All it took was one hit to spark our offense in a positive way,” Carney said. “If that happens in a different inning, I truly believe the game goes our way. Wamego’s pitcher did a great job moving the ball around and keeping us off balance. It wasn’t necessarily anything overpowering physically—I think we just weren’t mentally ready to attack pitches the way we needed to at the plate.”
Krier then got aboard when she beat the relay throw to first to avoid a double play. Hiner, however, was forced out at second for the second out.
Emerson Linnens, running for Krier, got to second on Abby Durham’s single to left and stole third before coming home on a wild pitch to make it a one-run ballgame, 3-2. But a swinging strikeout, for Adams’ 11th punchout, ended the game with Durham standing on third base.
“This has been my favorite year of coaching so far,” Carney said. “From the beginning of the season, I believed this team had what it took to make it to the state tournament and turn some heads. It just took until the middle of the season for them to fully believe it, too.
“It was an honor and privilege to coach this group of girls. We had a wonderful time, played some great games, and most importantly came together as a team when we needed it most.
“Sports are about building relationships, learning lessons, and having fun playing the game you love—and I truly believe we accomplished all of that this year,” Carney said.