Update: Lady Lakers advance to Final Four Regional

Update: April 29, changes in italics.

MATTOON-LAKE SOFTBALL FIELD--The Lady Lakers secured advancement to the Final Four of the NJCAA Region 24 Tournament Friday with 9-1 and 13-2 wins over the number eight seed, Southeastern Illinois College, at Laker Softball Field.

As the number one seed, Lake Land earned the right to play the first round in Mattoon, but it may not have made a difference where they played, the twinbill sweep in the best-of-three first round becoming the fifth and sixth victory over SIC this season.

Over those half-dozen games, Lake Land outscored SIC, 69-6, every game a mercy rule decision.

Tanna Hinthorne notched win number 21 in the opener; Kayla Kirkpatrick hitting her 20th win in game two. Hinthorne pitched the fifth inning in relief for a hold.

The highlight of the day, however, amidst games that had no shortage of Lake Land offense, was Olivia Mintun's three-run homer to left field on a ball that hit the top of the fence and bounced beyond. Though the game was not over, SIC had used up some of their chances for potential rallies, and the Lake Land faithful could anticipate a trip to the Region 24 Final Four in Centralia, to be held May 4-5 at Kaskaskia College.

No itinterary has been released regarding the Final Four, but if the tourney runs as it has for the past couple of seasons, Lake Land will most likely play the first game as the number one seed during the late morning of Friday, May 4. Regardless of when the Lady Lakers hit the field for their first action in Centralia, though, they, as all the final four teams will be slated to play at least two games on that Friday.

In other best-of-three first round action Friday (as reported by GRAC Sports):

In Mt. Carmel, Wabash Valley College swept Lincoln Trail College, 8-0 and 7-2.

In Centralia, Kaskaskia College swept Southwestern Illinois College, 5-0 and 4-2.

In Carterville, John A. Logan College swept Rend Lake College, 3-1 and 4-0.

Meanwhile, Wabash Valley College advances as the number two seed, Kaskaskia College advances as the #4 seed, and John A. Logan College advances as the #3 seed.

Unofficially, Lake Land would be playing Kaskaskia in the first round of the Final Four, and Wabash Valley would play John A. Logan.

The winner of the Region 24 Final Four Tournament secures a berth at the National Finals at Canyons Complex in St. George, Utah, May 17-19.

Coverage at the Final Four: WLKL 89.9 FM for any Lake Land games, other radio stations yet to commit, and if conncectivity and weather permit, live stream coverage of as many or all tourney games possible on ihigh.com.

Official information regarding the NJCAA Region 24 Final Four Touranment in Centralia at Kaskaskia College on May 4-5 will be posted as soon as available.