Lake Central’s Boyle blanks Highland

Updated: May 28, 2011 11:58PM

Lake Central softball coach Jeff Sherman had the best of both worlds Saturday as his Indians cruised to an 11-0 sectional championship win over Highland.

Sherman had the strong right arm of junior pitcher Bridget Boyle and used a thunderous 11-run, 11-hit attack to back up Boyle.

Boyle (11-2) allowed one Highland base hit — a Brittany Renninger one-out single in the top of the fourth. Boyle had it on cruise control throughout the five-inning affair.

“Yeah, I knew in warmups today that I had pretty good stuff,” said Boyle. “My warmup was solid and I know a lot of the Highland hitters’ strengths and weaknesses. I knew if I kept hitting my spots I would be able to get people out.”

Lake Central (27-5) sent 12 hitters to the plate in the bottom of the third and blew the game open, scoring eight runs and sending Highland starter Lauren Bultema to an early exit.

The Indians had Bultema on the ropes in the bottom of the first, loading the bases without a hit before a fly out to centerfielder Brooke Fowler ended the threat.

Brooke’s sister Brittany relieved Bultema and gave up three runs in the bottom of the fifth. The big blow was a three-run homer by catcher Sam Terry to end the game.

“We struggled a little bit with the bats the first time around against Bultema,” said Indians coach Jeff Sherman. “We made some adjustments, keeping our hands back, and it paid off.”

Besides Terry, who had a double, home run and four RBI, Lizzie Seymour went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored and Kayla Bishton went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and scored two runs.

The future looks bright for Highland (8-18) coach Erin Zeller, as her top two pitchers — Bultema and Fowler — are freshmen.

“After winning in extra innings last night, we seemed to come out a little flat,” said Zeller. “But, you have to give them credit, Boyle pitched well, lived on the outside corner and we didn’t make adjustments.”

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