The Lakeland softball team took three big steps toward securing the NECC regular-season championship this week by downing three of its closest competitors.
Lakeland tuned up for its battle with Fairfield in the NECC softball tournament final by splitting a pair of make-up games with Westview and Wawasee on Saturday.
A three-run ninth inning propelled Lakeland past Fairfield, 3-0 and into the championship game of the Class 3A softball sectional being played in Benton.
Ashlynn Grubb fired a no-hitter with a school-record 19 strikeouts as Lakeland opened its 2012 softball campaign Monday evening with an 8-0 romp over visiting Wawasee.