SOUTH WHITLEY- After Whitko's dramatic 3-1 win over Peru, rife with late-inning heroics, the post game celebration resembled one reserved for championships. For all intents and purposes it is with Peru and Whitko considered the two best teams in the Whitko Sectional field. Whitko coach Marla Burkhart knows however that anything can happen but feels this year's team won't have a let down.

"This team I don't have to worry about. They don't ever give up. They know anything can happen in any game, in any inning. We've come up against that this year and learned from it."

Wednesday night's contest was a defensive struggle with both sides showing some range on defense. Whitko's Jacky Arnett saved an extra base hit in the bottom of the second when she dove on a hot shot to right by Crystal Callander to end the inning. Whitko, while on their home field, was listed as the visitor last night.

In the top half of that second inning the Wildcats were threatening to score when with two outs centerfielder Jenna Yeager roped a single that looked to load the bases for Jana Rowland at the top of the order. However, Katie Trump, who reached on a walk, was sent home and caught by Peru third baseman Destinee Martin after trying to get back to the bag.

Peru got caught in its own baserunning blunder a half inning earlier when after catcher Trista Martin reached on a walk she was caught in a rundown while trying to steal second base.

The Tigers were the first team to claw its way on the scoreboard when in the bottom of the fourth Stacey Swinford laced a triple to deep right field that ended Whitko pitcher Stacey Socha's no hitter bid after 3 1/3 innings. With two outs Martin, who went 2 for 2 on the day, drove in Swinford to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

After the game Burkhart was asked whether she'd pitch to Martin again in that situation.

"We weren't trying to pitch to her. That just shows how good she is."

Whitko answered the call in the sixth inning when after two errors by Peru shortstop Whitney Walker the battery of Dana Sellers and Socha were on first and second respectively. Hannah VanHoozen laid down a perfect bunt in between the pitcher and home plate to load the bases with no outs. After a strikeout by Trump and a weak pop out by Alicia Burelison, it was up to Tasia Boggs, the second baseman and eighth-place hitter. Boggs got to a count of two strikes when she bounced went towards third base that just died in front of Peru's Martin, who hadn't been charging the ball. In the box score however it looks like a long single that bounced of the center field wall, and it did tie things up at 1-1.

Whitko then came right back in its half of the seventh inning to jump into the lead for good. Rowland started things off with a single and stolen base then scored on another Peru error that allowed Sellers to reach safely. Socha then helped her own cause with a single that scored Sellers and made it 3-1.

Socha came right back in the bottom of the seventh and mowed down the bottom of Peru's lineup. Her strikeout of Graves gave her eight strikeouts for the night. Not bad for a first year varsity pitcher.

"She's a very good pitcher," said Burkhart. "She was my second baseman for two years and in the offseason when we needed a pitcher to step up she did."

As for the championship game Whitko will either face Fort Wayne Elmhurst or Tippecanoe Valley on Saturday. Those teams face off in South Whitley tonight.

Depending on who wins that game will determine the time of the final on Saturday. Elmhurst's graduation is Friday night with Valley's being on Saturday afternoon. Whitko defeated both teams soundly this year. [[In-content Ad]]