With one game still yet to play, the South Adams Starfires have clinched another conference title after defeating Woodlan on the road 4-3 Tuesday night in the rain.
The Stars have a two-game cushion over Jay County, Woodlan and their opponent Thursday, Heritage, with their perfect 5-0 ACAC record.
This one didn’t go as one might have expected, however, as Woodlan led nearly the entire game and the Starfires had just one rally in their seven innings of play.
The Warriors got to starter Addie Baker early when Victoria Crozier homered to left in the bottom of the first.
Woodlan carried that 1-0 lead into the top of the third, when the visitors finally got their first hit against ace Abby Horn.
A double by Reagan Beitler and a bunt single by Sam Weigel turned the lineup over to leadoff hitter Macy Pries, but Woodlan turned a double play by picking off Weigel at first after a fly ball out by Pries.
Lexi Metzger hit a second Woodlan home run to left in the bottom of the fourth, but Baker killed any attempt at a larger rally with a big strikeout of her counterpart, Horn.
Beitler homered to left in her next at-bat to lead off the sixth inning to halve the deficit and the Starfires won the ACAC with the top of their lineup creating three runs in that inning by doing what they do best.
Macy Pries singled to center and the Starfires showed their skill with the bunt, putting two more runners on base.
Pries came home on an RBI groundout by Sofia Schwartz and Addie Baker produced the key two-run hit with a single to left to put South Adams up 4-2.
An infield error in the bottom half of the inning allowed Woodlan to get one back, but Baker clamped down and saw out the game for a great road win against a tough opponent.
Baker struck out eight in her seven innings of work and allowed six hits. Two of the three runs allowed were earned on the two home runs.
Horn allowed seven hits and struck out five and took the complete game loss.
South Adams will play Wapahani at home Wednesday and Heritage Thursday to round out the ACAC schedule. Fans of the Starfires and Patriots can hear the final conference game of the year on 92.7 FM Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
