Edinburgh softball coach Stephen Clark was concerned the Lancers might not be prepared for Monday’s Class A sectional opener against Waldron.
He needn’t have worried.
Tournament-host Edinburgh was solid in all phases and cruised to a 16-0 win in five innings.
Sophomore pitcher Maddie Clark threw a one-hitter and struck out 12, her best performance since throwing a perfect game against Southwestern (Shelby) earlier this season.
“They kept their focus,” Clark said. “We have come out flat a few times this year, but (tonight) we came out with some energy and did a great a job.”
Edinburgh opened up with four runs in the first inning and never was threatened.
The Lancers tallied nine runs on six hits in the second inning. The Warriors committed three errors in the second.
Edinburgh added three more runs in the third to essentially secure the win.
Clark, meanwhile, was rolling along, easily dispatching Waldron batters.
Clark missed out on a no-hitter and a possible second perfect game when Waldron pitcher Kearston Whitten doubled into right-center field.
Other than that, no Waldron batter hit the ball out of the infield against Clark.
Clark did the job with the bat, too, hitting a triple and knocking in two runs. Sidney Beier had a double, the only extra-base hits for Edinburgh.
In total, the Lancers had 15 hits, including 13 singles.
Beier also had three RBIs, while Bailey Woodall led the Lancers with four RBIs.
“They can hit the ball,” Clark said. “We had some good hits.”
Edinburgh plays Greenwood Christian tonight in a 7:30 p.m. semifinal.
Edinburgh and Greenwood Christian did not play in the regular season. Clark said he knows nothing about the Cougars but expects them to ready to play.
He’s confident the Lancers will be, too.
“I hope so,” Clark said. “Whoever comes out to play is going to win, and I hope it’s us.”
