Whitko’s Riley Insley hustles back to first as Aspen Bond tries to corral the pick-off attempt during Monday’s sectional quarterfinal. (Photos by Nick Goralczyk)

LAGRANGE – It was sweet, sweet victory for the Whitko softball team Monday afternoon. The Wildcats tallied double digits in a 13-2 thumping of Lakeland on its home field to advance to the semi-finals of the 2015 IHSAA Class 3A Softball Sectional.

Everything was clicking for Whitko from the start. Anna Ousley had a big day and started that in the first inning with a single then would later come around to score to give her team a 1-0 lead. Ousley reached on an error in the third and brought home on an RBI from Kennedy Krull to put the ‘Cats up 2-0. In total Ousley reached base three times, scored three times and picked up an RBI.

Hanna Yohe (front) rifles a pitch for the Wildcats while Haley Yohe stands ready at second base.

Ousley’s run in the third was part of four-run inning for the ‘Cats. Hits by Krull, Whitney Marsh, Maddie Gawthrop and Aly Nicodemus all contributed to the big frame.

As important as the runs scored were to Whitko’s success, the play defensively from the visiting team was just as impressive. Plays from seemingly everywhere on the diamond kept Lakeland contained on offense.

Krull made herself into a true villain of the Lakers when on defense. The lengthy sophomore shortstop made countless leaping and lunging plays to rob Lakeland of hits. The constant presence of Krull at short led to one Lakeland player finally saying, “Why does she have to be so tall?”

When Krull was not making the plays, then it was probably because the ball was not put into play thanks to a great day in the circle from sophomore Hanna Yohe.

Yohe pitched the entire game and went the first six and one-third innings without giving up a run. It was a stellar sectional performance by the underclassman and she just hopes it sets the tone for something even greater.

“We just all had our heads in the right place today,” began Yohe. “Usually somebody is up and somebody else is down but today we just had it all together. I just hope we can keep this going. We need to keep playing as a team, that’s the biggest thing.”

Paige Gust kicks up some dust as she tosses in this pitch for Lakeland.

The team unified for another big inning late in the game. Already leading 8-0, the Wildcats tacked on five more runs in the seventh. Nicodemus, Gawthrop, Emily Day and both Hanna and Haley Yohe all scored in the frame for Whitko.

A two-run home run for Mattea Holton finally put Lakeland on the board in the bottom of the seventh, but it was far too little and way too late to make a difference.

Moving forward the Wildcats move on to play West Noble in the sectional semi-final Tuesday night. For Whitko it’s all about staying focused and not getting too confident over this one win.

“We know how West Noble plays,” Yohe said of her team’s next opponent. “But we have to look at the them as a hole new team. it’s a clean slate for this game.”

“We don’t take anyone for granted because we’re tired of getting taken for granted,” stated Whitko head coach Michele Garr.

Whitko (15-7) run-ruled West Noble (5-17) 11-1 earlier this season, but it was the Chargers that avenged a 23-11 loss to NorthWood on Monday with a 2-1 win over the Panthers. The West Noble-Whitko semi-finale will begin at approximately 7:00 p.m. Defending champion Wawasee will face Fairfield at 5:00 p.m.

Anna Ousley comes in hot to home plate to score her second run of the day.