Lake Central won 4-2 at home in the rivals first meeting this season, but Lucka said she felt confident in the rematch, which could potentially be a trilogy if both teams win their sectionals and advance to a Class 4A regional June 1. I knew my defense was behind me, and they did so good, Lucka said. They were perfect, so I was just trying to play for them and pitch my best game.
Lucka ended the game by striking out Indians senior and Eastern Illinois recruit Mikayla Creasbaum in the top of the seventh inning, and Lucka s teammates immediately rushed the diamond to give her a group hug.
The senior struck out the first nine batters. I wasn t really paying attention to it until somebody said something to me, Pepkowski said. I was just going out there and throwing my game.
But as the Bulldogs looked to stage a late comeback, it was actually Pepkowski s teammate, catcher Jordan August, who slammed the door shut.
With two outs in hand thanks to a pair of strikeouts from Pepkowski, August recorded the last out of the game by picking off Crown Point s Audrey Williams, who was trying to steal second base. Shortstop Sydney Doloszycki caught August s timely throw and tagged Williams to cap off the Indians 4-2 Duneland Athletic Conference home victory.