Eventual champs eliminate Trojans
Staff writer
Walking into the state tournament with an 8-13 record after winning a regional championship as an underdog, Hillsboro faced off last week against the 23-0 McLouth Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs run-ruled most opponents this year, but the Trojans were able to make them battle all seven innings.
The Bulldogs won 9-2, advancing in a tournament that they won.
Hillsboro started strong.
“We came out with Cassidy Bernhardt getting on base with a line drive up the middle and then Kirsten Kluver smashing a two-run home run in the top of the second inning,” Hillsboro coach Alyssa Kroeker said.
The Trojans were unable to get another scoring drive going, however.
In a noteworthy play, Kori Arnold had a diving catch of a bunt from the pitcher’s circle.
“It was such a fun ride knowing how our season started,” Kroeker said. “This just comes to show you that it’s not how you start but how you finish, and the Hillsboro Trojans softball team proved this to be true up until the very end.”