Clear Springs eliminates Dawson in softball playoffs

May 1, 2024

The best-of-three bi-district softball series between Clear Springs and Dawson went the distance as the Lady Charges defeated the Lady Eagles 2-1 to advance to the 6A area round.

However, Clear Springs took the third and deciding game in the best of three series 6-4 to advance to the area round in the 6A Region III softball playoffs.

Clear Springs won the opening game 4-2 but Dawson tied up the series with a sensation comeback win that saw the Lady Eagles down 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh to score five runs for a 7-6 win to send the series to a third and deciding game.

Clear Springs drew first blood in the game with a four-run top of the third inning, which began with back-to-back singles from Logan Kieselhorst and Emma King. Erianna Garcia then hit a one-out grounder that was mis-fielded at second base and allowed Kieselhorst and King to score for a 2-0 lead.

Eryn Polite followed with an RBI double sent screaming down the left-field line to score Garcia’s courtesy runner Kinley Suhre, and another error after that brought Polite home for an early 4-0 advantage.

But, the Lady Eagles’ offense erupted for a big-time answer with five hits in the bottom of the third to even the score at 4-all, with Evey Dieudonne and Carissa Anaya clubbing consecutive two-run doubles.

However, Dawson was unable to capitalize on opportunities with two runners on and one out in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth, which included a key heads-up defensive play by Chargers first baseman Mallory Knoeppel, who quickly flipped a groundball for a bang-bang force out at home plate.

Dawson had multi-hit games from Carissa Anaya (3-for-3, two RBIs, two doubles), Caroline Roth (2-for-4, one run), Katy Hollier (2-for-3) and Peyton Travis (2-for-3).