Lady Indians prepare for Greene County

FORT DODGE — After Monday’s impressive 13-0 win over Spirit Lake propelled the Clarke Lady Indians into tonight’s semifinal game against Greene County, the Lady Indians find themselves just one step away from playing for a state title.

But head coach Lindsay Diehl said her team must flush Monday’s performance from its mind in order to be prepared for tonight’s 7:30 matchup on the INS Field (Diamond 2) at Harlan Rogers Sports Complex.

“We talk about flushing things, good and bad things,” Diehl said on Wednesday. “Yeah, we won 13-0 on Monday, but we can’t take that to Thursday. We have to focus and be ready to show up to the ballpark tomorrow night.”

Clarke, now 25-8 for the season, takes on a team that has momentum on its side.

Greene County comes in having won 16 of its last 18 games, knocking off several ranked teams along the way, including a 2-0 win over sixth-ranked Center Point-Urbana in Monday’s quarterfinals.

“Reading the (Fort Dodge Messenger) article about Greene County, about how they’re not done knocking off ranked teams,” Diehl said. “We had a good conversation about coming to play. They have nothing to lose. You have to respect a team like that. When things are clicking and they’re playing for the love of the game, crazy things happen.”

Strong lineup

Greene County managed just four hits in its win over Center Point-Urbana, but got a solo home run from junior pitcher Marissa Promes in the fifth inning, as well as an RBI single from Kayla Mobley in the sixth inning.

As a team, the Rams have eight regulars in the lineup who hit better than .300 for the season. Nine players have at least 14 RBI, with five of those players driving in at least 21 runs.

Leading the Rams’ offensive charge is junior Hannah Onken, who is batting .314 with four home runs and 31 RBI.

But Clarke will counter that potent lineup with one of the state’s premier pitchers in Libby Bemis, who pitched just the 13th perfect game in state tournament history in Monday’s quarterfinal win.

“Looking at their schedule, I think it’s going to play in our favor,” Diehl said. “Libby loves playing people we haven’t seen before.”

Bemis sports a record of 24-3 this season, striking out 223 batters in 168 innings pitched, while sporting a sparkling earned run average of 1.12 for the season.

Greene County features a strong pitcher of its own in Promes.

Promes is 24-4 for the season, having struck out 214 batters in 190 1/3 innings pitched. Her ERA sits at 1.40.

Diehl had the opportunity to scout Promes and the rest of the Rams during their 2-0 win over Center Point-Urbana.

“I stood right behind home plate, just to see the spin on her ball and see what she was doing,” Diehl said. “Looks like she tries to mix a riseball with a little bit of a curveball. I feel like we’ll be able to stay with the pitch. We talk all the time about adjustments at the plate, even between innings. Having veteran kids who have seen a lot of really good pitching, they know what adjustments to make.”

Clarke’s lineup will look to continue receiving production from the bottom of the lineup.

Freshman Sydnee Redman in the No. 7 spot knocked a double in Monday’s win, while No. 8 hitter Ally Deutsch was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI. No. 9 hitter Amanda Kindred drew a pair of walks, and also came up with a clutch hit to start the Lady Indians’ rally in the bottom of the seventh inning of their 3-2 regional final win over ADM.

The Lady Indians will once again have the edge in experience tonight.

Greene County’s roster consists of just three seniors in addition to seven juniors. None of the Rams’ players have played at the state tournament prior to Monday’s quarterfinal win.

Clarke, on the other hand, features six seniors and even the underclassmen on the team are battle-tested thanks to last year’s runner-up finish at the state tournament.

“They haven’t been here either,” Diehl said. “These kids are playing on a high. I’m hoping that our experience will be able to put the pressure on them from the first inning and put a little bit of a hole in their balloon. Get out ahead and stay ahead.”

Staying focused

Clarke has been treating the trip to the state tournament as a business trip.

The Lady Indians are on a mission, and Diehl doesn’t want her team to forget that.

The team traveled to Webster City on Wednesday for a practice session, preparing for the final two games of the state tournament.

“We touched on some fundamental things and covered some defensive situations I’m expecting, especially if Bondurant-Farrar is the one that comes out of the top half of the bracket,” Diehl said. “Libby threw a little bit. Keeping her nice and loose. Yesterday we went and swung the bats. Today, we really focused on the defense.”

In last year’s 6-3 Class 3A title game loss to Bondurant-Farrar, the Lady Indians were hampered by four errors. Diehl knows the Lady Jays are not afraid to execute different squeeze bunts.

But even though the Lady Indians are preparing for a possible rematch, Diehl knows her team must continue taking things one game, one inning, one pitch at a time.

“We have to remember to play the game one pitch at a time and play the game the way we’re supposed to, and not worry about anybody else,” she said.