Lady Lions finish season as Div. VI SE District runners-up in loss to Valley

CIRCLEVILLE — Saturday afternoon saw the 2026 season of the No. 5 seeded Fairfield Lady Lions end with a 9-1 loss against the No. 1 seeded Lucasville Valley Lady Indians in their Division VI SE District Final game at Terry Anderson Field in Circleville. 

The game — originally scheduled to be played at Unioto High School — was delayed one day due to inclement weather and field conditions, then ultimately moved to Circleville, where Valley’s bats proved to be too strong as they scored nine runs in the first four innings in their 10-hit effort.

Fairfield (19-9) finished the game with one run and three hits, as their lone run was scored in the top of the seventh inning when Jorgia Smith reached first on an error, then she stole second base and went to third on a passed ball. A double by Alyssa Bales scored Smith, with Bales going 1-for-2 with the RBI. 

Valley (18-7) scored one run in the bottom of the first, then added four runs in the bottom of the third and four more runs in the fourth inning. 

The Lady Indians’ first run scored when Ryleigh Weeks led off with an infield base hit, and she scored off a double in the next at-bat hit by Emilie Barr. Weeks finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Barr was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. 

Fairfield’s first hit of the game came when Kelsie Crowder singled to right field to lead off the top of the second, then went to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Bales, but Crowder was left on the bases. Crowder finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate. 

The bottom of the third saw Valley break away from Fairfield with a four-run inning, with the inning starting with Chelsea Davis being hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on a groundout, and Davis scored a run off a base hit to centerfield hit by Barr. After the second out was recorded, a double hit to right-centerfield by Izabella Bray scored Barr from first base for a 3-0 score. Bray was 2-for-3 with one run and two RBI. 

The inning continued with EJ Vice (1-for-3, one run, one RBI) hitting an infield single, scoring Bray from third base as she took that base on a passed ball. Vice scored a run after stealing second when Kendyl Christman (1-for-3, one RBI) hit a double to left field for the 5-0 advantage.

Fairfield had Ally Maynard lead off the top of the fourth with a five-pitch walk, and she went to second on a passed ball, then to third on a one-out single by Crowder. The runner was eventually called out at home with a tag by Valley catcher Bray to end the inning. 

Valley added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth as Davis had a one-out walk, then it was an inside-the-park home run by Weeks off a ball she smashed to right field for a seven-run lead. 

In a six-pitch at-bat, Barr hit an infield single with a ball hit down the third base line. Laylee McGraw (1-for-3, one run, one RBI, one walk) followed with a triple to left field, scoring Barr. Then it was the final Valley run of the game crossing the plate when Bray singled to right field, plating McGraw for a 9-0 lead. 

In the pitcher’s circle, Valley’s Christman (15-5) pitched seven innings, allowing one run (unearned) on three hits and one walk with 15 strikeouts, facing 24 batters. 

Rilee Quickle (15-8) pitched six innings for Fairfield as she finished with three strikeouts in the loss. 

Seniors for Fairfield are Rilee Quickle and Kyla Thomas. 

Fairfield finished their district runner-up season at 19-9 overall and 9-4 in the SHAC Div. II standings (second place). 

BOX SCORE
FHS    000 000 1 — 1 3 0 
VHS    104 400 x — 9 10 1