The home run queen of Iowa Class 4A softball struck again when the Adel-Desoto-Minburn Tigers softball team needed it the most. The top-seeded Tigers faced off against the fourth-seeded Newton Cardinals in the semifinals of the Iowa State Softball tournament from Fort Dodge. ADM senior Ashley Tennent delivered the go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, her state-leading 15th of the summer, helping the Tigers outlast the Cardinals to advance to Friday’s title game by a 9-8 final score. Tennant spoke with Raccoon Valley Radio after the game about her approach at the plate during her home run. “I was thinking don’t strike out,” Tennant said, “I just kept battling with her. I don’t know how many pitches she threw to me, but I was getting tired up there. Once she threw (the final) pitch, it looked in slow motion, and it all came together.”

Tennant’s home run gave the Tigers a 9-6 lead entering the seventh inning. The Cardinals plated two runs the ensuing frame but fell short of tying the game. ADM’s defense deserves some of the credit as well, stranding 12 Newton runners on base and throwing out three Cardinal runners at the plate. The win improves ADM’s record to 35-7 overall and will face sixth-seeded Des Moines Hoover in the Class 4A title game tomorrow night at 5:45 p.m.