Lakeview tops Niles to advance to semis

By JIM FLICK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NILES - Lakeview High built a 5-0 lead and survived a late-inning rally to defeat Niles, 5-4, Monday in a Division II softball tournament game.
Starting pitcher Abbie Bensing recorded eight strikeouts for Lakeview. She earned her 10th win as she pitched the first six innings, briefly left the mound in the seventh inning but returned to pitch as Lakeview recorded the final two outs.
Lakeview (19-3) advanced to a district semifinal game against Poland today in Jefferson.
Due to the tournament schedule, Niles (14-9) was the visiting team Monday, even though the game was played on the Red Dragons' home field in Waddell Park.
Lakeview wasted a first-inning scoring opportunity. Brittney Bucco tripled for the Bulldogs' only extra-base hit of the game. But Bucco remained stranded on third as the inning ended.
But that only delayed Lakeview's offense. After a runner reached base on an error, Lakeview scored the first run of the game in the second inning when freshman Lex Sidley smashed a hit to left. Sidley later scored on an infield grounder, and Lakeview led 2-0.
Taking control
Lakeview added three more runs in the fourth inning, with the help of two errors committed by Niles fielders, as Lakeview's lead grew to 5-0. Bensing struck out six Red Dragons in the first four innings, as the Bulldogs seemed in control of the game.
But Niles started a comeback started in the fifth inning, as the Red Dragons scored a pair of runs with the help of two Lakeview errors.
Lakeview's lead continued to shrink in the sixth inning, as Niles' Erin Armstrong doubled to right to drive in a run. The Bulldogs led 5-3 as the final inning began.
At the start of the seventh inning, Kailynn Cerny took over the pitching duties for Lakeview. Sarah Fenstermaker singled for Niles and came around to score with the help of two Lakeview errors, as the Red Dragons narrowed the Bulldogs' lead to 5-4.
Fine finish
With one out in the seventh, Bensing returned to the mound for the Bulldogs. But her return didn't completely stifle Niles' comeback. A runner who would have tied the score was tagged out in a rundown between third base and home plate before the game ended on a fly ball to right.
Bensing, a freshman, said her strategy was to "keep the batters off-balance" by mixing curves and "junkballs" into her pitch selection.
Lakeview coach Carl Eaton added Bensing threw an effective mixture of changeups and curves.
Before Monday, Lakeview hadn't played in 11 days, and Bensing admitted the long layoff left the team "pretty rusty."
Eaton agreed the long gap between games resulted in sloppy play by his team, which was credited with four errors Monday. "We almost gave the game to them," he remarked.
Niles also endured a lengthy gap between games. "It was a tough layoff," said coach Beth Ciminero. The Red Dragons were credited with three errors, which helped Lakeview build the early lead.