Sr ACME District Tournament
Indian Lake 5, Covington 4
Indian Lake advanced to the District Championship Series Thursday night by rallying past Covington 5-4 in the final loser’s bracket game, earning a rematch with Bellefontaine for the district title.
Laker starter Grant Wickline set the tone early, striking out the leadoff batter before working around a two-out error to keep Covington off the scoreboard in the opening inning.
Covington’s starter was equally sharp, allowing only a two-out single by Aaron Rapp while striking out the rest of the Indian Lake lineup, leaving the game scoreless after one inning.
Wickline retired the Buccaneers in order in the second before the Lakers broke through in the bottom half. Reed Strayer was hit by a pitch to open the inning, advanced on a passed ball and a groundout, then Rush Hurley drew a walk. After Strayer was picked off third following defensive indifference, Hurley moved to third on a catcher’s error before Colt Volbrecht reached on a first baseman’s error, allowing Hurley to score for a 1-0 Indian Lake lead.
Covington answered immediately in the third. After Wickline struck out the leadoff batter, the Buccaneers used a walk and a double to set up the tying run on a groundout before the next hitter launched a two-run home run to left, giving Covington a 3-1 advantage.
The Lakers responded in the bottom of the inning. Brady Golliday led off with a double, and Lane Kipker singled with two outs to put runners on the corners. Strayer then reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Golliday to score and trim the deficit to 3-2.
Wickline bounced back with a perfect fourth inning, while Indian Lake stranded a pair of one-out singles in the bottom half, keeping the Buccaneers in front by one run.
After Wickline picked off a two-out baserunner to end the top of the fifth, the Lakers evened the score in the bottom half. Rapp singled to lead off the inning before Wickline worked a two-out walk. Hurley followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Rapp and tying the game at 3-3. Volbrecht drew a walk to load the bases, but Covington escaped the threat with an inning-ending groundout.
Brady Golliday took over on the mound in the sixth and retired the Buccaneers in order, striking out the final batter of the inning before the Laker offense reclaimed the lead.
Golliday, Chance Persinger and Rapp opened the bottom of the sixth with three consecutive singles. Persinger drove in Golliday with a ground ball through the left side, and Rapp followed with another single that allowed Persinger to score on the throw, extending the Indian Lake lead to 5-3.
Covington mounted one final rally in the seventh. A leadoff walk eventually came around to score on a pair of stolen bases and a passed ball, cutting the deficit to one. Golliday settled in from there, retiring the remaining hitters to secure the 5-4 victory and send the Lakers to the District Championship Series.
Wickline earned the win after allowing three runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings. Golliday recorded the save, tossing two innings of one-hitless relief while allowing one unearned run, walking one and striking out three.
Rapp paced the Indian Lake offense by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Golliday finished with two hits, including a double, and scored twice, while Hurley and Persinger each drove in a run.
Indian Lake advances to face Bellefontaine in the District Championship Series beginning Friday. The Lakers must defeat the Chieftains twice to capture the district championship after Bellefontaine advanced through the winner’s bracket undefeated.
