The Atlantic softball team earned their chance to try to get back to the State Tournament but came up against a really solid Williamsburg team in the Regional Final. The Raiders came away with a 7-0 win and punched their third straight ticket to State.

Peyton Driscoll finished with 13 strikeouts for Williamsburg in the circle. She faced just three batters over the minimum on the night, which included two walks. Rylee Vercande set the tone offensively for Williamsburg with a leadoff homer well over the center field fence. The Raiders got one more in the first on a sac grounder by Elle Ridgeway. Williamsburg got one more in the second and then put up 3 more in the third. Zoey Kirchoff gave up three walks and hit a batter in that unfortunate 3rd. The Raiders’ final run came on a Jenna Thurm double in the fourth.

Atlantic’s lone two hits on the night came from senior Malena Woodward as she led off the 2nd and 4th innings with a hit. Kirchhoff took the loss giving up all 7 runs, 6 earned in 4 innings. Riley Wood came on in relief and shut out the Raiders in the 5th and the 6th, sitting them down in order each frame.

The Trojans end another terrific season at 23-15. Williamsburg improved to 32-10 and earned their fifth overall trip to State.

We caught up with Atlantic Head Coach Terry Hinzmann after the game.