With Clarkdale’s one through five hitters managing just a 3-for-24 performance from the plate in Game 1 of the MHSAA Class 3A fast-pitch state championship series at Freedom Ridge Park, Abby Roberts, the No. 7 batter, took it upon herself to determine the outcome of the game.

    Roberts reached base each of the five times she stepped into the batter’s box Friday afternoon which included three hits and 2 RBIs, driving in the tying and game-winning runs in the 10th inning of the Bulldogs’ 9-8 win against Nettleton.

    “I was just relaxed at the plate today and not tense,” said Roberts of her performance. “I hadn’t been hitting the ball a lot, but I just kept my shoulder in like coach told me to and it happened.”

    The biggest of her three hits came in the bottom of the 10th inning when Roberts ripped a single up the middle that scored the winning runs as Clarkdale took a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three series against defending state champ Nettleton. The celebration was on as she was stormed by her teammates and coaches in the middle of the infield.

    “That hit pretty much meant everything,” added Roberts. “It puts us one step closer to our goal the state championship. I’m just excited to be here and be apart of this.”

    Roberts not only showed off her offensive skill set, but her defensive skills at catcher as well.

    After the Tigers had tied up the score in the fifth inning, they threatened to take the lead in the sixth as leadoff batter Haley Parker singled. Roberts gunned down what would have been the go-ahead run as Parker, who went 4-for-6, attempted to steal second. That was a run that would have scored as the next batter roped a base hit to center field.

    “I try and practice that as much as I can,” noted Roberts. “I’m just glad I got her because I usually don’t get them. Sarah Beckman made a good scoop and tag on the play.”

    Roberts and her teammates are making the best of their trip to the ‘ship.

    “We are excited to be here and having a lot of fun.”

PUNTING THE BUNT

    Despite starting with a runner at second base in extra innings, Clardale never attempted to sacrifice the game-tying runner to third. It is a strategy that Clarkdale coach Rick Roberson said doesn’t fit his Bulldogs.

    “We hit better than we bunt,” he said. “It’s that simple, we hit better than we bunt. And in a couple of situations there, we had 2-3-4 coming up and they definitely hit better than they bunt or they wouldn’t be hitting there.

    “That’s not our game. We hit better than we bunt and we had been hitting the whole game. And we were playing to win as the home team. When they only got their one, we figured we could get one. A ground ball to second is the same as a bunt. A long fly ball is the same as a bunt. I think you decrease your odds when you bunt, and as long as I’ve been in this game,a I’ve seen far too much bunting. If I was a college coach and signed scholarships, I wouldn’t sign bunters.

    “We hit better than we bunt. Bottom line.”