Lakeview finishes with familiar results

SCHUYLER - For the second straight season, the Lakeview pitchers had their way with the Schuyler batters.

Nicole Sempek and Telegram Super Senior Steph Schmidt combined to pitch a perfect game with 10 strikeouts to help the Class B, No. 4 Viqueens to a 9-0 win over the Warriors Thursday night. The game was called in the fifth because of the mercy rule.

The same result happened last year as Schmidt and former Lakeview pitcher Brittany Schuller, now pitching at Dana College, did the damage with 10 strikeouts and a perfect game in a 10-0 win.

Lakeview coach Dave Prokesh said Sempek and Schmidt did their job against Schuyler.

“We had a chance to give both of them some significant amount of work tonight,” Prokesh said. “Both threw very well. Nicole had her fastball going, while Steph had a good changeup. That's a pretty lethal combination.”

Jenna Alswager hit an RBI double over Rachael Toman's head in center field to put Lakeview on the board. She would later score on a passed ball for a 3-0 lead. Schuyler's Jessica Polk got out of the inning as she struck out the side.

Polk did give up 11 hits, but she made the Viqueens earn their hits as she had seven strikeouts. Schuyler coach Gale Bly said he was pleased with her performance.

“She threw hard tonight,” Bly said. “She came out for the most part and threw strikes. When you do that, you give your team a chance to help you out, and we made some nice plays. But give Lakeview credit. They are just a good team.”

The Schuyler offense could get nothing going as Sempek needed just 11 pitches to strike out the side in the bottom of the inning.

After getting nothing in the next inning, the Viqueens went right back to work. After a Brooke Groteluschen single, Alswager blasted a home run over the center-field wall for a 5-0 lead.

Prokesh said Alswager is swinging a hot bat right now.

“She has been hitting the ball solid game-in and game- out,” Prokesh said. “She's leading the team in terms of batting average. It was a matter of time before she was going to have a home run.”

Later in the inning, Teshia Steuben hit a double to score Dani Went, and the Viqueens cruised from there. Steuben finished the game 2-for-3 while scoring a run.

“It was good to see (Steuben) play well tonight,” Prokesh said. “She's been frustrated with her performance the last few games but has made some adjustments with her swing, and she hit the ball well tonight.”

Meanwhile, Sempek had retired eight batters due to strikeouts, but the streak ended when Polk grounded out to Alswager at first base. Schmidt came on in the fourth inning and kept the perfect game intact as she struck out the final two batters to end the game in the fifth.

Lakeview will be back in action Saturday as it hosts Omaha South and North Bend/Scribner-Snyder.

Lakeview (10-2) 305 01 - 9 11 0

Schuyler (5-9) 000 00 - 0 0 2

� Pitching: WP- Nicole Sempek, LP- Jessica Polk.

� Leading Hitters: LV- Jenna Alswager 2-for-3, 2B, HR, 4 RBIs, 2 runs; Teshia Steuben 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, run; Steph Schmidt 3-for-3, RBI, run.