Sectional champs The Delphi softball team won its Class 2A Sectional played last week at Clinton Central defeating the host team 10-0 in five innings in the championship game. Team members include (l-r): 1st row (sitting) - Brittany Tyner, Whitney Arion, Kara Laxson, Chanler Norman and Emily Kayser. 2nd row (kneeling) - Brittney Atwood, Megan Yates, Danielle Burge, Haley Lynde, Kayla Yates and Leslie Kayser. 3rd row (standing) - JV Coach Hilary Dale, Morgan Lavy, Randee Schultz, Erika Hawn, Carli Rouhier, Amanda Schultz, Cassidy Oliver, Jordyn Bieghler, Kristina Barnard and Assistant Coach Jeff Bieghler. Back - Statistician and media coordinator John Dunn, Assistant Coach Lisa Cook, Asstistant Coach Jim Arion and Head Coach Randy German. Photo by Bill Stauffer. The state's Class 2A #12- ranked Delphi softball team dominated host Clinton Central in the Sectional 37 championship game Thursday night. The Oracles captured their third Sectional title in the past five years.

The 10-0 rout via the 5-inning 10-run rule lacked the drama of the 1-0 semi-final against Seeger on Wednesday, but was sufficient enough for Delphi's third Sectional title since the inception of the softball program in 1992.

In the title game, Delphi (23-8) did not need as much offense as they produced due to the outstanding pitching performance of junior Brittney Atwood, who threw a no-hitter, striking out eight of the 16 batters that she faced.

It was her second consecutive shutout in this year's sectional and seventh of the season.

Only a throwing error to first base kept her from a perfect game as only one Bulldog reached base safely, making it no further than first base.

The Lady Oracles held true to their season-long routine of jumping in front early, scoring four runs in the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate capped-off from a 2- out, 2-RBI single up the middle from Kristina Barnard, scoring Kayla Yates who had singled and Amanda Schultz who walked.

Whitney Arion led-off the contest by getting hit with a pitch and was forced home with the game's first run on a basses loaded walked to Chanler Norman.

Norman scored the final run in the first on an infield grounder by Brittany Tyner.

It was the 21st time in 31 games this season that the Oracles have scored at least a run in the first inning and the 16th time that they have scored two runs or more in their first at-bat.

With Atwood in control on the mound, Delphi scored three more runs in the fourth inning, with Carli Rouhier delivering the big blow, a 2- RBI triple that scored Arion, who had singled and Yates who walked.

Rouhier then scored on Atwood's single to right-center.

The final three Lady Oracles runs came in the fifth inning when Leslie Kayser led-off with a walk, stole second and scored on Arion's attempted sacrifice bunt that forced the catcher's overthrow to first base.

Following a Yates' walk, Arion then scored on Schultz's RBI-single up the middle, followed by Atwood's grounder to short that scored Yates with the 10th and final run of the game.

Delphi was held to six hits in the contest after averaging 12 coming into the game, but capitalized on four Clinton Central errors, seven walks and two hit-batsmen to secure the title.

Rouhier's and Barnard's two RBIs apiece led the Oracles as six different batters had a hit apiece.

By virtue of its sectional title, Delphi is now among the final 16 teams remaining in the tournament and will travel to the Eastern (Greentown) Regional to face #8- ranked Madison-Grant (24-3) in the opening game at 11 a.m., with the winner advancing to the championship to face the Fort Wayne Bishop Luers - Cass winner at 7 p.m.