Emma Wilkins Powers Lake Central to Class 4A State Championship with Grand Slam

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana — Emma Wilkins, a junior right fielder for Lake Central, made a significant impact on the field, leading her team to victory. In the Class 4A state championship game at Purdue's Bittinger Stadium on Friday night, Wilkins launched a grand slam into left field on the first pitch she faced in the third inning, helping the Indians secure a 9-2 win over Terre Haute North.

This grand slam marked Wilkins' sixth home run of the season, contributing to a remarkable total of 74 home runs for a powerful lineup. The team's success was further bolstered by senior second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen, a DePaul commit, who kicked off the scoring in the first inning with her sixth homer of the year. With this victory, Lake Central (31-2) claimed its first state title since 2004 and its fourth overall, marking a triumphant return to the championship game after last appearing in 2021.

Senior third baseman Tegan Tripp, also a Virginia Tech recruit, added to the excitement by hitting a homer to center field to start the fourth inning, bringing her season total to 12 home runs. Tripp had a standout performance, finishing the game with three hits in four at-bats. On the mound, junior pitcher Maddie Such, who will be playing for Kentucky next year, limited the No. 10 ranked Terre Haute North (30-2) to just one earned run across six hits while striking out seven batters. In addition, Such contributed offensively with a single that brought in a run.

Junior catcher Madi Wainwright, who has committed to Indiana, also chipped in with a run-scoring single, while junior center fielder Piper Urbanski contributed with a sacrifice fly. Lake Central's coach, Yvette Tovar, celebrated her victory, adding another state title to her impressive coaching history. Tovar, a 2003 graduate of Lake Central, was part of the championship team in 2002 and the runner-up team the following year.