Indian Lake’s softball team was hoping to wrap up the outright Central Buckeye Conference Mad River division title Thursday, but the Lakers will have to wait for another attempt after falling to visiting Kenton Ridge 5-2 in a clash of the CBC’s top two teams.
The Lakers are now 19-2 overall and 13-2 in the league. Indian Lake has a one-game lead over North Union. The Lakers can clinch the outright MR crown Monday at home against Urbana (2-16).
Kenton Ridge, the leader in the Kenton Trail division, improves to 19-5, 14-1.
The two pitchers, Indian Lake’s Madison Brentlinger and the Cougars’ Kylie Ropp, controlled the first half of the game Thursday.
Neither team was able to score a run during the first five innings.
The offenses came alive in the sixth inning. The Cougars pushed three runs across in the top of the sixth for a 3-0 lead.
Indian Lake responded with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-2.
Kenton Ridge regained the momentum in the top of the seventh inning, plating two more runs for a 5-2 advantage.
Indian Lake was unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Offensively for the Lakers, Haylee Edwards went 3-4 and Brentlinger and Halle Roby each had an RBI.
Brentlinger scattered seven hits, allowed five earned runs, struck out five and walked five.
Kenton Ridge 5, INDIANLAKE 2
Cougars 000 003 2 — 5 7 1
Lakers 000 002 0 — 2 7 0
WP—Ropp; LP—Brentlinger.