MATTOON - A few years ago Paul Schnarre was traveling in Utah. He said it was one of the most beautiful states he had ever seen.

Now, he is going back, and he is taking his Wabash Valley College Lady Warriors softball team with him, to St. George to participate in the NJCAA National Tournament.

The Lady Warriors, ranked 15th in the nation, defeated the Lake Land College Lady Lakers, ranked 11th in the nation, 9-2, Wednesday to claim the school's 10th overall Region 24 Tournament title and seventh in the last nine years.

The game was moved to the Round House Complex in Mattoon because of unplayable conditions at Rend Lake College.

In the afternoon's first game, Lake Land came back through the loser's bracket to defeat Olney Central, 6-1, setting up the title game. Earlier this season, Lake Land and WVC had split a double header in Mattoon, the Lake Land swept WVC in a double header played at Paul Schnarre Field.

"I had to trust my sophomores for leadership," Schnarre said. "Emerald Graham just took us on her shoulders."

Graham hit three home runs to power the Lady Warriors to the win. She had a two-run shot in the first, and solo homers in both the fourth and sixth innings. Graham now has 18 homers and 76 RBIs on the season.

Kristen Broadway got the win, her 27th against two losses this season. She went 7.0 innings and gave up two runs, one earned, on eight hits with no walks and seven strike outs.

The Lady Warriors started with a three-run first. Brooke McCartney singled and moved up on Mary Tindle's sacrifice. Graham then hit her first home run. LeAnn Collins singled, then Emily Priar drew a walk. Amy Orender singled home Collins.

WVC added three more in the second. Taylor Wilson walked and Graham singled with two down. Collins then hit her 16th homer of the season for her 79th RBIs.

Lake Land cut it to 6-2 in the last of the second on a one-out homer, an error, a passed ball and a two-out double.

But Graham added a two-out homer in the Lady Warriors fourth. WVC got another run in the fifth as Jackie Porter and Orender both singled, and Katelyn Kruse's bloop single loaded the bases. Wilson drew a walk to get the run home.

Graham finished out the scoring with a lead-off homer in the sixth.

Graham was four for five with three home runs, four RBIs and four runs scored. Collins was two for four with a home run and three RBIs. Orender was two for three with an RBI.

WVC is 43-3.