If you wanted to perhaps sum up the Catasauqua softball team and their reason for success, you might point to the fact their defense has improved tremendously in last two weeks.

Catty gained its third shutout of the year Wednesday night, and has outscored opponents 166-83 this season. They now take an 18-5 record into Thursday's District 11 2A softball championship after a 3-0 win over North Schuylkill.

Lexi Ayache spun a six-hitter and got two of her four strikeouts in the third inning. She left seven Lady Spartan runners stranded in the win Wednesday afternoon at Parkland High School. She even had a hit during a Catty rally in the bottom of the fouth.

Senior Erika Lebron helped to lead the CHS defense as she made four putouts and also started a second base to first base double play in the fourth inning that took North Schuylkill right out of a potential inning. Amarys Moten made two grabs in the outfield. Danielle Lilly excelled at shortstop as did senior Jordan Dardas at the hot corner.

Training 3-0, North Schuylkill's Tiff Lapotsky had a single in the fifth as the Red, White and Blue were threatening to score. Nadya Spotts (two hits in the game) came up with two runners on, but Ayache forced Spotts to ground out to Lilly at shortstop.

With a 1-0 lead, Paige Kogelman, a senior, got Catty insurance with a single and a steal of second base in the fourth inning. Janae Matos sacrifice her to third before Dardas was hit by a pitch. Dardas was then nailed stealing at second before Kogelman came home on an error on throw from first base.

Lilly came into run for designated player Shea O'Brien, who reached on that fielder's choice RBI. Ayache, the sophomore, helped herself with a single and Moten came through with a single that scored Lilly. Tori Scott was the courtesy runner for Ayache, but was thrown out at third on a nice peg from center field by Spotts to a waiting Brooke Ennis at the hot corner. All that gave Catty a 3-0 advantage.

Catty scored its first run in the second inning as Dardas walked, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. O'Brien walked and stole second before Dardas scored on a wild pitch. O'Brien was thrown out by Dominique Ross on a throw to Lapotsky. North Schuylkill pitcher Christie Hutira struck out Ayache and Moten, who ended the inning going down looking.

Hannah Edwards went 1-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases. Kogelman went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and was robbed of a hit by Kayla Bolinsky at second. O'Brien was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

Catty had the edge at catcher as no Lady Spartan stole any bases on Matos. Catty swiped five and advanced on two wild pitches.

The Lady Roughies will face Pen Argyl (17-6) for the District 11 title. Pen Argyl won the Colonial League North Division and the Rough Riders won the Colonial League Championship.