Indian Lake jumps out to 15-1 lead before game halted by rain
Indian Lake’s April Whitcher, right, is congratulated by coach Skip Oliver in the bottom of the first inning after driving in three runs with a double off the left-field fence. (EXAMINER PHOTO | MATT HAMMOND) |
LEBANON — A district championship was so close Indian Lake’s softball team could taste it here Friday. Now, the Lakers have to wait three days before officially punching their ticket to the regionals.
Indian Lake blitzed Clermont Northeastern for 15 runs in the first two innings and led 15-1 with two outs in the top of the fourth when the game was halted because of rain.
The game will resume at 5 p.m. Monday at Lebanon Junior High School. If the Lakers stay in front by at least 10 runs, they will only have to finish out the fourth and play the top half of the fifth to get a run-rule win.
It was raining at the start of the game Friday and gradually got heavier as it went on.
With Clermont Northeastern batting in the top of the fourth and two outs recorded by the Lakers, the three-person umpiring crew convened and made the decision along with the site manager from Lebanon High School to halt the contest.
“It is disappointing that we could not finish it off today,” said Indian Lake head coach Skip Oliver. “The girls really wanted to have it over with, so they can go home and focus on the regional tournament next week. It’s unfortunate for the girls and their parents that they have to come all the way back here Monday for one inning. We have finals on Monday and the girls will have to get out of school early, so I am not even sure how we are going to handle that.”
Unless the Rockets are able to pull off a miraculous comeback Monday, the Lakers will be continuing their impressive tournament run into the Division III regional tournament, which begins Wednesday at Wright State.
“It would have been nice to be able to start getting ready for the regionals,” said Oliver. “Now, we are only going to have one day to prepare for that.”
Read complete story in Saturday’s Examiner.
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