Clarksville repeats
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Just one team throughout the week was able to solve defending Class 1A state softball champion Clarksville.
The Indians secured their second straight title here Friday afternoon with a 5-2 victory over Edgewood-Colesburg at Rogers Park, completing a quest that even head coach Katie Burman didn't expect.
Clarksville became the first repeat champion since Collins-Maxwell in 2019. The only loss the Indians suffered at state was to St. Edmond, as the two battled through times in the first double-elimination tournament.
As they did in every game they played, the bottom three hitters for Clarksville came up clutch, as Gia Hoodjer, Mykah Hall and Eve Jordan had three hits, three RBI and a run scored, including a homer from Jordan.
"I honestly thought about moving Eve up in the order, but decided to just keep it the way it has been," Burman said. "It's just, having her in that No. 9 spot, that is the best spot for her to be in because we treat her like another leadoff hitter."
Burman, who has over 270 wins in 12 years leading the program that she once played for, added that this title run was "for the team."
"Last year, we did it for the community and our families," Burman said. "This year, we wanted to do it for ourselves and for us. At the beginning of the year, I probably would not think that we'd be here right now."
Caty Lodge had two hits and scored two runs for the Indians, as Reagan Wedeking, Hannah Wangsness and Hoodjer each added an RBI. Jordan finished with two RBI, as Sydney Lovrien struck out seven.
Lovrien, who pitched all 15 innings of the Monday night win for Clarksville over North Butler, was also the key pitcher in all three games vs. the Gaels. She threw over 600 pitches this week, including more than 200 in the game vs. North Butler went temperatures remained over 90 degree throughout.
"We knew going in that Sydney's body was starting to feel a little rough," Burman said. "She's a tough kid and a multi-sporter, so she can take a lot."
Burman, who watched as her team picked up several one-run wins throughout that included memorable comebacks, added, "We said before, we wanted this game to be the boring one."
For Edgewood-Colesburg, they entered as the No. 8 seed and did not suffer a loss through the double-elimination portion of the tournament. Faith Dugan had a home run, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, as McKenna Hoefer had two hits.
Jordan was named captain of the all-tournament team, with Lodge and Lovrien joining her. Dugan, Addi Schmelzer and Sydney Lovrien made it from Edgewood-Colesburg, as Rihanna Myers, Faith Shirbroun and Ella Vandi earned honors from St. Edmond.
Riley Miller of Exira-EHK/Audubon and Lexi Clendenen of Southeast Warren completed the team.
CLARKSVILLE 5, EDGEWOOD-COLESBURG 2
EC 101 000 0 – 2 8 2
C 011 300 x – 5 7 1
WP-Sydney Lovrien (7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 1 BB). LP-Rachel Egleseder (6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 K, 1 BB).
HR-EC: Faith Dugan; C: Eve Jordan. 2B-C: Gia Hoodjer, Caty Lodge (2), Hannah Wangsness.
RBI-EC: Rachel Egleseder, Faith Dugan; C: Gia Hoodjer, Hannah Wangsness, Eve Jordan (2), Reagan Wedeking. SB-EC: Faith Dugan (2); C: Hannah Wangsness.