Lane captures another softball title

Updated: October 26, 2011 8:04PM

When you consistently win championships, sometimes you never know what it’s like to lose. That was the case Wednesday afternoon as Lane kept its unbeaten streak alive, defeating Washington 12-3 for the 16-inch softball title at UIC.

“We’ve won 52 straight, six of the last seven titles and 10 since the Public League adopted the sport in 1999,’’ said Lane coach George Stavrakas. “These guys don’t know how to lose and it seemed like it was a challenge sometimes, getting them up for games.’’

Washington, which came into the playoffs as the 18th seed, gave all Lane it could handle early on. After the Indians (25-0) got off to a quick 2-0 start in the top of the first, the Patriots tied it up in their half thanks to a two-run single by John Perez.

Lane added two runs in the second and Washington added a run of its own in the third before Lane broke open the game in the top of the fourth, scoring six times, to give them a commanding 10-3 lead.

The Indians constantly knocked balls to the big gap in right-center Washington was giving up.

“We teach the kids to pull the ball,’’ said Stavrakas. “It’s what happens in the men’s (softball) game, but many high school kids can’t seem to do it, so it’s something we try to engrave in them.’’

Zach Barth hit a monstrous home run for Lane and had another ball caught at the wall. Tommy Angsten led Lane going two-for-three with a double, single and three runs batted in. Cody Davis also went two-for-three for the Indians, knocking home a run and scoring twice.

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