Iowa Lakes softball came within a came of playing for a national title, finishing third at the NJCAA National Championships in Normal, Illinois over the weekend. The second-seeded Lakers won their first two games, before falling by a run to eventual national champ Muskegon in the quarterfinals, dropping into the losers bracket of the double elimination tournament. ILCC then earned wins over Jonhson County and East Central to make it to the national semifinals, where they lost 2-0 to Kankakee. The Lakers finish the season with a final record of 61-11. Sophomore outfielder Annie Tabone and freshman pitcher Julia Nealer were named to the All-Tournament teams. Nealer was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Pitcher after setting tournament records for innings (37) and strike outs with 44.
