Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY -Ê"When we're in the gym in the winter, and the kids wonder why we are there, this is it. This is why we put all the time in," said Whitko softball coach Marla Burkhart after her Wildcats picked up a five-inning 12-1 win over Elmhurst to win the Whitko Sectional championship Saturday afternoon.
But things did not always look bright for the Wildcats.
Elmhurst capitalized on a Wildcat error in the first inning to score a run and take a 1-0 lead. The Trojans held that lead through the top of the third inning.
"I think it took an inning to get the jitters out," said Burkhart. "And we got a slow start offensively. The girls were a bit nervous, I could tell."
But the nerves wore off for the Whitko squad and the Wildcat bats came to life in the bottom of the third inning.
Tasia Boggs reached first on an error at third base, and then Katie Langohr reached first on an error as well.
A fielder's choice by Leah Winger loaded the bases, and another fielder's choice by Dana Sellers sent Boggs home and tied the score at 1-all.
Stacy Socha reached base and Langohr scored on another error at third to give the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage.
By the end of the inning, Winger, Sellers, Socha, Katie Trump and Alicia Burelison crossed the plate as well, putting Whitko in control 6-1.
After holding the Trojans scoreless in the top of the fourth, Whitko's offense went to work again. The Wildcats produced four more runs to take a 10-1 lead into the fifth frame.
Whitko continued its run in the bottom of the fifth. Langohr hit a single, and Winger reached base on a walk. Then a single by Sellers sent both Langohr and Winger accross the plate, ending the game on the 10-run rule.
"Once we got rolling, we were more confident," said Burkhart. "Once we got ahead, we played well through the end of the game."
Socha went the distance for the Wildcats, pitching five innings and allowing just one hit. She struck out seven batters and walked none.
Winger and Sellers led Whitko at the plate, pounding out two hits each. Winger was 2 for 3 with three runs scored, while Sellers was 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs.
VanHoozen, Trump, Burelison, Boggs and Langohr each added one hit to the Whitko boxscore.
The win puts Whitko in the Bellmont Regional Saturday. The Wildcats will face off against Northridge at noon. The championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m.
WHITKO SECTIONAL
WHITKO 12, ELMHURST 1
Elmhurst 100 00 - 1 1 4
Whitko 006 42 - 12 9 2
Elmhurst AB R H RBI
Hewitt 2 0 0 0
Marchesano 2 0 0 0
Gayday 1 1 1 0
Fuller 2 0 0 0
Mahler 0 0 0 0
Hovis 2 0 0 0
Sztuk 2 0 0 0
Schwartz 2 0 0 0
Norman 1 0 0 0
N. Mahler 1 0 0 0
Townsend 2 0 0 0
Totals 17 1 1 0
Whitko AB R H RBI
Rowland 4 0 0 0
Winger 3 3 2 0
Sellers 4 2 2 3
Socha 2 2 0 0
VanHoozen 3 1 1 3
Trump 3 1 1 1
Burelison 2 0 1 2
Boggs 3 1 1 0
Langohr 3 2 1 0
Totals 27 12 9 9
LOB -ÊElmhurst 1, Whitko 5. 2B - Van Hoozen.
IP R ER H BB K
Elmhurst
Marchesano, L 5.1 12 5 9 3 2
Whitko
Socha, W 5 1 0 1 0 7
