The Indian Lake Lakers were able to do what seemed undoable Wednesday afternoon in the Regional Semi-Final in Division III.
They scored off one of the hardest pitchers to score on in the state.
Entering Wednesday Roughriders pitcher Brooke Mannon was 18-0 on the season with an ERA of 0.137. Mannon has over 230 strikeouts on the season and has only allowed 5 runs all season. She’s committed to Arizona to play for the Wildcats next year.
The Lakers not only scored on Mannon, they scored as many runs as she’s given up all season as they dominated West Jefferson 5-0.
Indian Lake jumped ahead early as Madison Brentlinger hit a two-out single in the bottom of the first. She then stole second base. Halle Roby singled to score Brentlinger for a 1-0 lead.
The Lakers kept their foot on the gas in the third inning. After a couple of infield singles, Halle Roby singled again driving in another run. Hannah Marlow stepped up and roped another single that plated another run for a 3-0.
As the Laker’s offense was wearing down Mannon, Madison Brentlinger and the defense were mowing down Roughrider hitters.
West Jefferson didn’t get their first hit until the third inning and never got the offense on track thanks to Brentlinger changing speeds all evening.
Indian Lake kept scratching runs across in the fourth and fifth further deflating the Roughriders.
West Jefferson had a chance in the seventh inning to ruin the shutout, but Katie Roby made a game-ending diving catch in the alley in left-centerfield to end the game.
After the game coach John Stahl said it was a total team effort saying that everyone contributed to the win.
Madison Brentlinger out-dueled Brooke Mannon throwing 7 innings allowing no runs with 1 strikeout. She had West Jefferson confused at the plate. Many of their hits were weak ground balls on the infield.
There’s been a change of date and location from what was previously announced. Indian Lake will play Miami East in the Regional Final Saturday, May 27 at noon at Jonathon Alder High School. For those that have already bought tickets, they will be good. OHSAA will transfer to the new site.
Riverside fell in the Division IV Regional Semi-Final to Covington 9-1.
Covington beat the Pirates for the third time this season pulling away from Riverside.
Covington scored first with a 2-run homer in the bottom of the third.
The lone Pirate run came on a solo homer by Jade Copas in the 5th.
The Bucs broke it open in the bottom of the 6th with a three-run double followed by an RBI double.
The Pirates end the season at 15-11 while Covington improves to 28-4.
