Lady Indians win district championship for first time in 23 years

For the first time since 2002, the Hillsboro Lady Indians are Southeast District champions. Friday, May 23 will be a day many Hillsboro softball fans remember, as the Lady Indians won a long-awaited Division IV SE District championship as they defeated the Circleville Lady Tigers, 5-0 at Logan High School. 

The win is the first district championship for the Lady Indians program in 23 years and their third district title overall, as they previously won district championships in 1988 and 2002. 

Friday’s win is also the 13th shutout of the season for HHS, who improved to 20-3 overall with the victory. The district championship game against Circleville saw the Lady Indians collect eight hits and commit no errors. Circleville finished with three hits and five errors. 

The first run of the game came in the bottom of the third as HHS took a 1-0 lead as Hillsboro started their scoring with a one-out single by Rhianna Clemons, hitting a ball to left field. Next, Mylea Fridley reached the bases on an error at third base, moving Clemons to second base. 

The first run of the game scored when Camryn Spruell hit an RBI groundout to third base, scoring Clemons for the 1-0 lead. 

HHS added four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, starting with a single by Madison Dearmon, who sent the ball to left field for a single. After the first out was recorded, Fridley singled to left field, moving Dearmon to second base. 

Next was a base hit by Spruell, who moved the runners over as Rilynn Swisshelm advanced to third as she entered the game as a courtesy runner for Dearmon. The base hit also moved Fridley to second base. 

Then came the four runs as Chloe Roberts hit a fly ball double to right field. Swisshelm and Fridley scored on the hit, while Spruell and Roberts both scored on an error by the catcher on the throw home for a 5-0 lead for the Lady Indians. 

In the circle, Hillsboro had another outstanding game pitched by Spruell, who in seven innings allowed no runs on three hits and no walks with 13 strikeouts. She threw 100 pitches in the win, 67 for strikes. 

Offensively, Hillsboro’s eight hits came from seven players, with Clemons going 2-for-3 with one run scored. 

Hillsboro had one extra-base hit as Roberts’ double saw her finish 1-for-3 with one run and two RBI. 

Fridley finished 1-for-4 with a run, while Spruell went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Addie Huff was 1-for-3, and Addley Miller finished 1-for-3. Dearmon was also 1-for-3. 

This postseason, Hillsboro has outscored their opponents 11-2, as they won their district semifinal game against Vinton County, 6-2 on Tuesday, May 20. 

Next for the Lady Indians is a Division IV Regional Final game Wednesday, May 28 against the winner of the East District championship game (Indian Valley and Morgan) at 2 p.m. at Philo High School. 

BOX SCORE
CHS    000 000 0 — 0 3 5 
HHS    001 040 x — 5 8 0