CENTERVILLE — Battle tested from playing in a grueling softball conference, Indian Lake is reaping the rewards of its challenging schedule in the postseason.
The Lakers still have yet to be tested in tournament play after a 12-2 five-inning rout over Clermont Northeastern here Thursday in a Division III district final.
The Lakers are now 23-3 on the season and they advance to the regional tournament to face the winner of Saturday’s district championship game between North Union and West Jefferson.
The regional semifinals will be played next Wednesday at Centerville High School. The Lakers will play in the second game at 5 p.m.
All three of Indian Lake’s tournament games to date have resulted in run-rule victories.
“We played a lot of really talented teams in our league,” said Indian Lake head coach John Stahl, who led the Lakers to an outright Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division championship this spring. “Day in and day out, they were tough games. When you play competition like that on a regular basis, it prepares you well for the tournament.”
Despite coming in with a record of 20-5 and winning the Southern Buckeye Conference National division, Clermont Northeastern was no match for the powerful Lakers on Thursday.
Indian Lake continued its impressive offensive display with a 16-hit output.
“I’m never surprised anymore with the way these girls swing the bats,” said Stahl. “They have hit the ball like this all season and they hit really well again tonight.”
Junior pitcher Madison Brentlinger again took care of business in the circle for the Lakers, surrendering just three hits while striking out three and walking none.
“Madison has been pitching like that all year,” said Stahl. “She did a great job of keeping them off-balance by mixing up her pitches.”
It didn’t take long for the Lakers to flex their muscles.
They sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the first inning, putting five hits together to score five runs.
“That was really big,” said Stahl. “I wasn’t excited about being the visiting team, but to come out and get five runs like that right away was a great confidence boost.”
Indian Lake increased its lead to 8-0 with three more runs in the second inning and the lead grew to 12-0 after a four-run third inning.
The Rockets scored their two runs on a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.
Brentlinger then retired Clermont Northeastern in order in the fifth to clinch the run-rule victory.
Porscha Davis went 3-4 with two doubles and three RBI and Abigail Elliott went 3-3 with a double and two RBI to power the Lakers at the plate.
Also for IL, Haylee Edwards went 3-4 with an RBI, Brentlinger went 2-4 with two RBI, Halle Roby had two RBI and Hannah Marlow was 2-4.
Indian Lake will look to keep rolling in the regionals, although the Lakers know the competition will be stronger.
The Lakers split with North Union during the regular season, while West Jefferson features star pitcher Brooke Mannon, who has signed to play at the University of Arizona.
“When you get this far, all the teams are great,” said Stahl. “We are going to scout (North Union and West Jefferson) on Saturday and then adjust to which pitcher we will face.
Other than that, we don’t want to change a whole lot. We want to just keep playing the way we’ve been playing all season.”
Indian Lake 12, CLERMONT NE 2
(FIVE INNINGS)
Lakers 534 00 — 12 16 1
Rockets 000 20 — 2 3 3
WP—Brentlinger; LP—Drewry.