Staff photo / Brian Yauger Chalker’s Tatum Hudak launches a pitch toward home plate Monday evening against Southern.

VERNON — Chalker is one step closer to a district title, its first since 1998, after dispatching Southern 10-0 in a Division IV, Badger District semifinal on Monday.

“We’re really excited,” Wildcats coach Rich Hudak said. “We’re just trying to keep a level head and just keep doing our thing every single day.”

The Wildcat bats exploded in the second inning to the tune of six of the team’s runs. Chalker just kept sending runners home. Mia Russomanno was knocked home by Kelsey Kren, who was knocked home by Natalie Piecuch.

Chalker kept inching its way around the bases and it paid off.

It’s all from the tough pitchers they’ve seen this year.

“That’s (the result of) seeing good pitching,” Hudak said. “So when you come in (to a tough game), you’re prepared.”

Junior Gabby Nieves rounded the bases three times on Monday, including the game-sealing run in the bottom of the sixth.

Chalker pitcher Tatum Hudak had a great performance, sitting down 13 while allowing just two hits.

“Great performance,” coach Hudak said. “Hitting her spots and doing what she’s been doing for years. We work all year long and all winter long, when no one’s watching.

“That’s why you go out, hit spots, do what you need to do, and make the correct pitches. They have some good hitters over there, that’s why you have to hit your spots.”

After last year’s defeat to Brookfield on this same field, the Wildcats knew that they had to step things up this year across the board.

The new crop of freshmen, including Tatum Hudak and Abby Grimm, have helped, but the team’s schedule has been crucial.

Playing regular season contests — and competing — with teams like Brookfield, Poland and Lakeview, only helps at this time of the year.

“It’s awesome, it means the world,” coach Hudak said. “Really excited for all these young ladies, and congrats to Southern Local, that’s a nice team. We’ve never played them before, weren’t sure what to expect, but we’re super pumped. We know about last year (losing in the district semifinals), and we knew that we needed to grow and build. We subjected ourselves to better competition, that’s how we grow.”

Another thing that’s helped is the team’s energy. Between the nearly nonstop cheering from the dugout and down to the small things, like unique golf club headcovers for each player atop their bat bags, Chalker hasn’t just been winning, they’ve been having a blast doing it.

Like most teams, the Wildcats feed off that energy and use it to push through the adversity.

“It’s affecting us in a real positive way,” coach Hudak said. “As coaches we’ve made it a real point to our team that we need to get everyone involved. Everyone is involved all the time. Cheering on the bench for our team, it’s a big deal, it helps tremendously.”

The No. 2 seeded Chalker (15-5) takes on top-seeded Western Reserve in the district finals. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Badger High School.

byauger@tribtoday.com