Hillsboro Lady Indians finish as district runners-up

ATHENS — Early runs scored by the Unioto Lady Shermans put the Hillsboro Indians down early, and they were not able to recover, falling in the Division II SE District Finals Thursday by a 6-2 score, ending the most successful Hillsboro season in two decades.

Hillsboro this season won 21 games and lost just three, and though two of those losses were to Unioto, Hillsboro had a season to remember as they won their third consecutive perfect Frontier Athletic Conference championship, won a sectional title and won a game in the district round. 

“This group here — from freshmen to seniors — gave everything they had this year,” Hillsboro head coach Gary Breeden said. “We were talking after the game about when we would call Saturday practice, everybody would show up, everybody went through the process, grinded it out and did what they had to do to get better.

“Unfortunately our season ended in Athens, but our season made it to Athens, so the next step is to move on.” 

The win for Unioto (23-3) was their first district title since 1995, while Hillsboro’s last district championship was won in 2002. 

On Thursday, at Ohio University, the Lady Indians trailed 4-0 after two innings as the Lady Shermans started the game strong with two runs in each of the first two innings. The first inning saw Alexis Brook take first on an error, followed by a two-run inside-the-park home run by Morgan Daniels. 

In the second inning, Unioto scored two more runs, starting with a walk by Amaris Betts. Then came a two-out base hit to centerfield by Brook, and following an error off the single, both runners scored runs, making it a four-run advantage.

Hillsboro’s first run came in the top of the fourth when Kinsey Gilliland smashed a lead-off solo home run to centerfield, on an 0-2 count, for a 4-1 score. 

Unioto answered in the bottom of the fourth off a single by Brook, scoring Halle Uhrig, who initially forced a one-out walk. 

Hillsboro’s second run came in the top of the fifth with Halle Reveal hitting a one-out single to centerfield to reach the bases. After the first out was recorded, Reveal took second on a passed ball and scored off a base hit to left field off the bat of Camryn Spurell. 

UHS added their sixth run of the game with Megan Miller scoring off an error for the final 6-2 lead. 

The Lady Indians totaled five hits and committed three errors, while Unioto had three hits and committed two errors. 

Reveal led HHS at the plate finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored. Spurell went 1-for-3 with a walk, Gilliland was 1-for-3 (home run) with a run and RBI. Addie Huff ended the game at 1-for-3. 

Hannah Burton and Eowyn Brown each drew a walk. 

Spurell was charged with the loss in the circle. The sophomore ace allowed six runs (two earned) on three hits and nine walks. She totaled eight strikeouts. In the two games played in the district round, Spurell totaled 25 strikeouts. Against Unioto, Spurell threw 141 pitches, 72 for strikes, facing 30 batters. 

In ‘23, Spurell struck out 222 batters in 20 appearances (19 starts), having at least 10 strikeouts in a game 13 times.

This season Hillsboro scored 230 runs, were 10-0 in the FAC and increased their win total by five games compared to the previous season. In the past three seasons, HHS is 30-0 in conference games, and in the past two seasons they have won 37 games overall. 

“It is extremely encouraging that even our younger kids, our middle school kids coming through, they know what’s expected now, and the bar has been set. Now we have to maintain and go over the bar,” Breeden said.

Seniors for Hillsboro are Hannah Burton, Chloe Page and Kinsey Gilliland. 

“Those three seniors, I just finished talking to them, as far as teammates, their supportiveness, their character … they exemplify all of those,” Breeden said. “All three did what was expected of them, all three of them supported everybody else and in their own ways all three led. They will be extremely missed.”

Breeden had one last message to the community and family members of Hillsboro players.

"From the bottom of my heart I want to not only thank the family members, but the community members that made the trip to Athens and showed these young ladies what they mean to them. I just want to thank the community,” Breeden said. 

BOX SCORE
HHS 000 110 0 — 2 5 3

UHS 220 110 x — 6 3 2