Indian Lake battled Johnstown in the DIII State Semi-Finals Thursday morning from Akron on 98.3 WPKO.
Indian Lake found themselves in trouble early as two errors put the Johnnies on 1st in 2nd in the bottom of the first with no outs.
Madison Brentlinger struck out the next batter and then got two fly ball outs to end the threat and the pitcher’s duel was on.
Both Brentlinger and Johnstown’s Macy Walters were putting up zeros.
Walters had a perfect game going into the top of the sixth when the game took a turn. Walters delivered the first pitch that sailed high and she immediately went to the ground in pain. Walters was unable to continue, leaving with a left knee injury.
Dakota Staffan came in relief of Walters. She got the first out before Indian Lake got their first runner of the game with a Katie Roby infield single. Reece Martin grounded into a fielder’s choice erasing Roby. Martin was on first with two outs and the top of the order was up for Indian Lake. Martin stole second and Haylee Edwards drew a walk. Mackenzie Dixon stepped up and laced a 2 strike single straight up the middle into centerfield scoring Martin for the game’s first run. Madison Brentlinger followed and drove a pitch down the right field line to the fence clearing the bases scoring two runs for a 3-0 lead. Brentlinger was stranded out third, but the Lakers had done the damage.
Brentlinger and the Indian Lake’s defense did the rest as they got the next six outs for a 3-0 shutout victory.
Brentlinger threw her third straight shutout going 7 innings, giving up 3 hits, and she struck out 5.
Indian Lake will play for the DIII Championship Saturday morning at 10:00 versus Wheelersburg from Akron on 98.3 WPKO and all 98.3 WPKO’s connected streaming devices.
