Former Central star caps college comeback

From staff reports

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Former Wilson Central softball standout Kaitlyn Clark was in the middle of a big comeback which lifted Division II No. 11 Trine from a three-run deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to a 5-4 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the gold medal championship game of the invitation-only National Fastpitch Coaches Association D-III Leadoff Classic.

The Thunder ended spring break with an 11-1 record. Trine bested 27 other teams, including 13 of which were ranked in the NFCA top-25 entering tournament play.

Trine freshman Clark was named the tournament Most Valuable Player after hitting .522 over the six games with 12 hits, two doubles, five runs scored and three RBIs. Clark was 3-for-4 in the title game with a double and two singles.

Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Thunder tied the score on a triple with the winning run on third base and Clark coming to the plate.

Rather than walking Clark, who had been on fire the whole tournament, Claremont elected to pitch to her and she made them pay. On the first pitch she saw, Clark delivered the game-winning hit up the middle to score the winning run.