A sweet three-peat is in the books for the Titusville 11-12 year-old softball all-stars after Thursday’s 7-2 victory over Cochranton/Lakeview in the District 1 championship game.

It was their second win over CL this week and third win in a row.

CL barely hit a ball out of the infield against Titusville pitcher Harper Wolfkiel who pitched a solid game. “Harper did a great job,” head coach Abby Popescu said after the game. “She just held her own out there and did not waver despite the difficult conditions with the humidity and heat. She was a steady hand.”

Titusville jumped right on CL pitcher Alara Knox when leadoff batter Mary Lesko singled with a little bloop just over the third baseman’s head. Wolfkiel then almost took Knox’s head off with a hard liner right up the middle that scored Lesko who had advanced to second on a ground out by Giselle Gibbons. Wolfkiel eventually scored on a passed ball. Hanna Ringer also scored on a passed ball after reaching on a walk and advancing to third on a pair of steals.

It looked as though CL would answer in the bottom of the first with a lead off walk by Ella Pittner followed by a base hit by Madisyn Dillaman to put runners on the corners. Then Knox put a solid bat into the ball driving it hard to right field that virtually everybody in the park thought was going to drop. Everyone except speedy right fielder Kylie Yochum who snagged the ball in her outstretched glove and alertly threw to first catching Dillaman for the double play. Pittner was also nearly home and had to hightail it back to third. After a strikeout ended the inning, CL was left scoreless.

Titusville had a big opportunity in the second, but left the bases loaded, scoring none.

CL got an infield hit by Audrey Lewis to lead off the second inning. She ended up on third two sacrifice bunts later. She was driven in when Amelia Drumm beat out an infield squib.

In the top of the third Lesko again reached on a bunt and stole another base before scoring on yet another wild pitch. Gibbons, who walked, stole her way to third and then scored when Wolfkiel struck out, but alertly broke for first after the catcher bobbled the ball. On the throw to first Gibbons sailed across home plate.

In the bottom of the third Yochum again came up huge with a good catch that prevented another run.

Titusville added a run in the fourth when Capri Warner had a solid at bat drawing walk after being down 0-2 in the count. She stole a base and advanced on a fielder’s choice before scoring on another fielder’s choice.

In the bottom of the fifth Yochum once again came up huge with a diving catch in shallow right just inside the line with a runner on second. Even though the runner advanced to third it killed any momentum and secured the second out. Wolfkiel then struck out the final batter.

“Kylie (Yochum) just had the game of her career so far,” coach Popescu said. “Just really outstanding. She was just all over the place, she is really smart out there.”

Amelia Kline reached on an error in the top of the sixth, ending up on third after a Lesko hit. Gibbons beat out an infield hit, scoring Titusville’s final run.

CL showed signs of a comeback with a lead off infield hit ending on second after a throwing error. Then advanced to third and scored on a couple fielder’s choices.

“Everybody put in a great effort out there, batting and fielding,” coach Popescu added. “I just love that the girls are having fun out there.”

Titusville, with the 7-2 win, will move on to the sectional tournament next week in Brookville with a chance to advance to states.