SHELBY — Lucas got into a battle of the bats in Tuesday night’s district softball tournament, but wielded the biggest bat of all.
The Cubs defeated Crestline 11-3 with a veteran lineup and a key hitter.
“We’ve been in the district semifinals four years straight,” Cubs’ coach Jim Rader said. “Tonight I think we showed our experience and took advantage of the opportunities that (we had).
Experience, was important. But so was having the best hitter in the area: Alex Depue.
The .600 hitter on the season started the game with a hit, then wound up on third before being singled in by her sister, Frankie Depue.
Lucas scratched out four runs in the first inning. Those four runs proved to be important when Cubs’ fielders lost a couple of balls in the sun during the first two innings as Crestline scored two runs.
“We needed all four runs. I often say defense wins championships, but offense is so important,” Rader said. “It can offset some (mistakes) made in the field.
“I think, offensively, we performed tonight and once we settled down, we played good defense too.”
Erica Westifield was the winning pitcher for Lucas. She struck out five without a walk.
“Erica has been effective all season long,” the coach said. “She kept batters at bay. She doesn’t walk many and she always keeps pitches around the plate. She is well in control of her self.”
In the third inning, Liz Yirga smacked her 12th home run of the season over the left field wall. Rader said the junior is one home run shy of the school record.
“I was just focused on getting on base,” Yirga said of her solo shot. “I wasn’t looking to hit a home run. The pitch came, and it went.”
Rader noted how timely Yirga’s power can be.
“She keeps doing that,” he said. “When she comes up to bat the girls expect her to get the bat on the ball. I don’t know if they expect her to hit a home run, but she hits with some power and thank goodness for that. It’s helped us quite a few times.”
This was Crestline’s first time in a district semifinal game since 2011.Â
Lucas will play Friday at Shelby at 5 p.m. against a foe that had yet to be determined at the time of publication.
