Lakeland Girls Advance to NECC Championship with Win over Panthers

 Thanks to a combination of a good day at the plate and a clutch defensive catch the Lakeland softball team is headed to the NECC championship to face the Angola Hornets. The Lakers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning thanks to doubles by Jill Mingus and Kizzie Trinh and would hold the lead all game. The Panthers struck back in the top of the fourth scoring four but the Lakers would come back and score one in both the bottom of the fourth and fifth. Ashlynn Grubb was the hurler for the Lakers and only allowed one run on eight hits and struck out three. The Panthers had the tying run on first with two outs when Taryn Terry hit a deep fly ball towards the line in right field but a running catch by Kizzie Trinh would secure the Laker victory.

The Lakers will play Friday night at Prairie Heights when they take on Angola in the NECC title game.