By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
STEVENSVILLE – The offense was there, the defense was there and for the entire seven innings of Tuesday's opening game of the Division 2 District Softball Tournament, it looked as if Niles would get revenge on Lakeshore.
Leading 2-0 heading into the top of the seventh, the Lady Vikes knew it would just take three easy outs to end Lakeshore's season, But the Lancers proved why a team should never lose hope and rallied for a 2-2 tie.
A passed ball allowed Sarah Burlingham, who was anxiously waiting on third base, to score. Brook Fleenor's line drive to center field opened the gates for Ashley Brown as she darted toward home plate, tying the score.
Niles was unsuccessful in scoring any runs in the bottom of the inning, extending the game into extra innings.
But that's all it took for the Lancers to claim the win.
Katie Pappa smashed a double between Niles outfields Demi Schrader and Patty Anton to keep the spark alive. Pappa reached third on an infield ground ball.
"I told her that the pitcher could throw another passed ball and she did," Lakeshore head coach Denny Dock said.
The passed ball allowed Pappa to slide safely into home, giving Lakeshore a 3-2 advantage. The Vikes ended the inning, and had no luck even reaching base in the bottom of the eighth.
"So frustrating once again to be so close to a big district win, but I guess it wasn't meant to be," Niles coach Jim Arnold said.
The loss was not only hard for the members of the team, but it was a tough one for Arnold, who coached his last district game on the softball field.
"It's going to be tough. It will hit after tonight. You always hate to go out like this, but at the same time I can't complain about how our kids played," Arnold said.
Arnold announced his retirement earlier this year. He has coached the Lady Vikes for the past 17 years.
"Jim is as classy a guy as there is. We should all take notes from him. He is a great guy in every sport he coaches and I wish the best for him," Dock said.
Lakeshore pitcher Lauren Castonguay took the win in the circle for the Lancers, while Jenna Ignowski suffered the loss and ended the season with a 23-10 record.
After the game, Jenna sat quietly on a cooler outside of the dugout with her head down.
"It wasn't your fault Jenna, it was mine," sister Nicole Ignowski, who is the catcher, said about the passed ball.
Jenna had eight strikeouts and no walks in her final game as a sophomore. She also added a center field single at the plate.
Nicole, a senior, ended with a single.
Other top hitters were Heather Daniels and Shelley Aurand with two hits each and Patty Anton and Cricket Fisher each had one single.
"Whoever takes over next year, I wish the best of luck to. They have a lot of talent coming back," Arnold said.
Niles, now 24-11 overall, will play its final game tonight against Coloma at 4:30 p.m. The single game is a make up from earlier this season.
Lakeshore (33-5) will take on St. Joseph on Saturday following the Edwardsburg/Dowagiac contest, which takes place at 10 a.m.
The Division 2 District finals will begin at 2 p.m.
Lakeshore … 3
Niles … 2
At Stevensville
Lakeshore 000 000 21 — 3 8 1
Niles 011 000 00 — 2 7 0
WP – Lauren Castonguay (21-3) and Chelsea Sobralski
LP – Jenna Ignowski (23-10) and Nicole Ignowski.
2B: Brook Fleenor (L), Katie Pappa (L).