Few could forget how the ADM softball team’s season ended last year, even if they wanted to.

The Tigers lead 3-0 through five and half innings in the 2014 regional finals against Clarke of Osceola, only to watch that lead evaporate in the sixth, when Clarke tied it up. The eventual state champions then walked-off ADM in the seventh, marking a bitterly disappointing ending to an otherwise successful season.

No. 1 ADM (32-4) has shown no hangover effect from the loss this season having made it back to the exact same spot. The Tigers will try for a state tournament berth at 7 p.m. Tuesday night in Adel against No. 13 Creston.

Rather than run from the hearbreaking end to last season, ADM’s players embraced it, pinning an article about the game to the team’s home batting cage.

“They’ve had to look at that article and remember what kind of happened, so it was basically just getting back to work,” said Tigers head coach Rick Dillinger. “I don’t think that’s in their minds right now. I think the full focus is we’ve just got to take care of business, we’ve got to play well, the kids have got to make sure they don’t make mistakes. And if we execute and get after it offensively, we’ll be OK.”

ADM boasts one of the state’s best pitchers in Molly Jacobsen, who is complimented by one of the state’s best defenses behind her. Jacobsen will have her hands full against a powerful Creston lineup. The Panthers (25-6) have teh fourth best slugging percentage in Class 4A at .493.

“Well I think it’s going to come down to who actually hits and does the situational game things right,” Dillinger said. “It’s looking pretty well matched. We’ve got some good pitching, very good hitting, and [they’re] coached well, so we’ll have to play well.”

Tune in to K107 and raccoonvalleyradio.com for all of the action from Adel Tuesday night. Our pregame coverage kicks off at 6:45 p.m., with first pitch at 7.