Hillsboro advances to D4 district finals

The Hillsboro Lady Indians are one win closer to achieving another big goal they had this season. That’s because on Tuesday at Logan High School, the Hillsboro Lady Indians defeated the No. 9 seeded Vinton County Lady Vikings 6-2 in the Division IV SE District Semifinals. 

The No. 1 seeded Lady Indians return to the district finals, where they will face the winner of No. 4 South Point/No. 5 Circleville, as the finals will take place Friday, May 23 at Logan High School with a 3 p.m. start. 

HHS (19-3) fended off multiple scoring threats by the Lady Vikings throughout the game, as they loaded the bases in multiple innings, and HHS overcame a couple passed balls that resulted in runs for Vinton County. 

Overall, the Lady Indians played a strong game as they had a four-run inning in the bottom of the third, then added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Vinton County, when they trailed by four runs, scored their two runs in the top of the fifth as two runners crossed home plate on wild pitches in the top of the fifth inning. 

Hillsboro also fended off the Lady Vikings in the previous inning, as VCHS loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, only to see the Lady Indians battle out of the inning without allowing a run. 

Going back to the bottom of the third inning, that’s where HHS did their most damage at the plate, starting with Mylea Fridley taking first base on an infield error to lead off the inning. Then came a two-run home run by Camryn Spruell on a 1-1 count, sending the ball over the centerfield fence, as Fridley also scored on the homer for a 2-0 lead. 

Next was a four-pitch walk by Chloe Roberts, and she moved to second on a groundout by Isabelle Brunck. 

Hillsboro’s lead jumped to 3-0 when Addie Huff sent the ball to left field. In the same sequence, Roberts scored on an error in left field, while Huff advanced to second base. 

After the second out was recorded on a ground ball which advanced Huff to third base, Reagan Clemons hit a ground ball hard to centerfield, scoring Huff for a four-run advantage. 

Hillsboro loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with Fridley drawing a one-out walk, followed by a base hit by Spruell and a walk forced by Roberts. The bases stayed loaded on a fielder’s choice that put Brunck on the bases with two outs, but Vinton County got out of the jam as they forced a ground ball out to end the inning. 

VCHS in the top of the fifth scored both of their runs following wild pitches, as that inning saw them total two hits and draw a walk, but Spruell continued to battle in the circle, ending the inning with a strikeout. 

Hillsboro added two final runs in the bottom of the sixth with Spruell drawing a four-pitch walk to lead off the inning. Next was a double by Roberts, hitting the ball to right field, and then the score went to 6-2 as Brunck smashed a two-RBI double to centerfield, scoring Spruell and Roberts all with no outs. 

In the top of the seventh, Vinton County had one batter reach the bases on a two-out error, but Spruell struck out the side to punch Hillsboro’s ticket back to the district finals. 

Spreull in the circle pitched seven innings (146 pitches, 87 strikes) where she allowed two earned runs on four hits and five walks. The Frontier Athletic Conference Player of the Year finished the game with 17 strikeouts. 

At the plate, Spruell was one of two batters with two hits, going 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs, two RBI and she also forced two walks. 

Reagan Clemons also had two hits, going 2-for-3 with one RBI and a walk. 

Fridley ended her day at the plate by finishing 1-for-3 with one run and a walk. Roberts was 1-for-1 (a double) with two runs and three walks. Brunck was 1-for-4 (a double) with two RBI. Huff also had a hit by going 1-for-4 with a run. Rhianna Clemons forced a walk for the Lady Indians. 

HHS has now won eight consecutive games since April 21. In that span, the Lady Indians have outscored their opponents 77-3 with six shutouts.

BOX SCORE
VCHS    000 020 0 — 2 4 3 
HHS      004 002 x — 6 8 2