The ADM softball team is just one win away from heading to the state tournament in the very first year under new head coach Rick Dillinger.

What a remarkable turnaround this program has gone through in the past couple of years, as the Tigers won just four games a season ago and are now on the brink of heading to Fort Dodge.

However, tonight’s game against Clarke of Osceola will not be easy.  The Indians have already beat the Tigers once this season, by a score of 8-0 back on June 11th, and they are the number three team in Class 3A for a reason.

Clarke will have ace Libby Bemis in the pitcher’s circle tonight.  She is among the most dominant rise-ball pitchers in the state, and her 1.15 ERA is the third lowest in Class 3A this season.  Back in Clarke’s June 11 win over the Tigers, Bemis allowed just one hit and struck out 10.

ADM will undoubtedly counter with their own ace in this evening’s regional final, that being lefty Molly Jacobsen.  Jacobsen really has been a different pitcher since that loss to Clarke in which she allowed six earned runs on 11 hits.  Her season ERA is now down to 1.88 and she continues to lead all classes of high school softball with 325 strikeouts heading into tonight’s matchup.

Whichever pitcher has her best stuff this evening very well could send their club into the state tournament.

We’ll be in Winterset for tonight’s Class 3A Region 8 final, with first pitch scheduled for 7pm.  We’re on the air for pregame at 6:45 on K107.