LC locks up outright DAC crown

Updated: May 10, 2011 11:10PM

There was no celebration. No screaming and yelling.

The postgame atmosphere was much more business-like — as in, this task is complete, let’s move on to the next one.

Oh, make no mistake about it. One of the goals set by Lake Central’s softball team this spring was to win the Duneland Athletic Conference title.

Goal met.

Ultimate mission still to be accomplished.

The bar is set high in this program. It’s reach the Final Four or bust.

The Indians’ 4-0 win over Portage (12-6, 7-6) Tuesday allowed the program to clinch its first outright DAC title since 2008 when Keith Hauber’s team accomplished the feat in his last season as coach.

“It’s rewarding for these girls being that they’ve worked really hard for this,’’ said Indians coach Jeff Sherman, whose team went only 8-6 in the league a year ago.

The tough DAC schedule, though, paid big dividends for the Indians last season as they qualified for semistate before losing to eventual Class 4A state champion Hamilton Southeastern.

LC (21-5, 12-1) obviously has some bigger fish to fry — beginning with the upcoming sectional.

For now, though, beating the only team which beat them in the DAC this season — to clinch the title outright, was downright rewarding.

“It feels really good to get revenge on them,’’ LC first baseman Nikki Adams said. “We wanted to come out really strong today and we did.’’

Adams had a lot to do with that. The slugging junior went 3-for-3, including a double, and drove in the second of two first-inning runs the Blue Indians scored against Portage starter, Natalie Korpak.

“I think getting those two runs let our pitchers relax a little more and have more confidence out there,’’ Adams said.

Catcher Sam Terry drove in the first run with a single — scoring Kayla Bishton who had singled to open the inning.

Lake Central starter Lily Del Toro (6-3) allowed only three hits and fanned four with a walk in three innings.

Bridget Boyle pitched three scoreless innings of relief without allowing a hit, while Morgan Franovich allowed one hit and fanned two in one inning.

“I thought it was good for (Portage) to see three different styles of pitchers,’’ Sherman said.

Three of the four runs LC scored came after sacrifice bunts, which Sherman said shows how well his team executed.

The Red Indians managed only four hits and couldn’t come up with timely ones when they needed them. In the third inning, they loaded the bases with two hits and a walk, but Del Toro fanned Dani Lynch to end the threat.

“It wouldn’t matter if it was 100 to nothing,’’ Portage coach Gil Arzola said. “If you can’t score, you can’t score. I thought we played very good defense and I thought Natalie pitched a great game. We just didn’t hit when we needed to and we didn’t adjust to their different pitchers at all.

“They’re an excellent team. They’re the best team in the DAC -- there’s no doubt about that.’’

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