Softball Division IV State Semifinal Preview: Hillsboro, Cortland Lakeview set to make state debuts

TALE OF THE TAPE 

School: Hillsboro
Location: Hillsboro, OH
Head Coach: Gary Breeden (4th season) 
Mascot: Indians 
Overall Record: 22-3
Conference: Frontier Athletic Conference (10-0)
Region: 13
Runs Scored: 216
Runs Allowed: 48
District Championship: Southeast District 1
Current Win Streak: 11
State Appearances: 1st 
Team Batting Average: .336
Team Hits: 228
Team Home Runs: 20 

School: Lakeview
Location: Cortland, OH 
Mascot: Bulldogs 
Head Coach: David Kelm (1st year)
Overall Record: 22-4
Conference: Northeast Eight Athletic Conference (12-0)
Region: 16
Runs Scored: 246
Runs Allowed: 113
District Championship: Northeast 1 
Current Win Streak: 5
State Appearances: 1st  
Team Batting Average: .407
Team Hits: 323
Team Home Runs: 22

Division IV State Tournament Bracket

HILLSBORO — Wednesday is the day both the Hillsboro Lady Indians and Lakeview Lady Bulldogs have been waiting for each of their respective program’s history. Both schools will be making their first appearance in the OHSAA Division IV State Semifinals, as both schools were regional champions for the first time.

Getting to this game, the postseason run for Hillsboro includes wins vs. Vinton County (6-2), Circleville (5-0), Morgan (10-4) and Logan Elm (5-2). Lakeview’s tournament run consists of wins against Crestwood (11-1), Marlington (5-1), Elyria Catholic (9-2) and Perry (5-1). 

After the Lady Indians’ win against Logan Elm in the regional finals, senior Camryn Spruell is batting .471, with 70 at-bats (93 plate appearances), 35 runs, 33 hits, 35 RBI, 5 doubles, 4 triples, seven home runs, 20 walks, .581 OBP and .957 SLG. 

Senior Chloe Roberts in 24 games for Hillsboro is batting .455 with 66 at-bats (90 PAs) with 27 runs, 30 hits, 29 RBI, five doubles, two triples, six home runs, 18 walks, .578 OBP and .864 SLG. 

Fellow senior Isabelle Brunck enters the game with a .389 BA in 24 games and 85 PA (72 ABs). Her season stats also include 16 runs, 28 hits, 18 RBI, four doubles, two triples, one HR, 10 walks, a .459 OBP and a .542 SLG. 

The Lady Indians also have standout stats which include: 
Addie Huff (24 games, .359 BA, 78 ABs, 23 runs, 28 hits, 11 RBI, 5 doubles, three triples, one HR, two walks, .383 OBP, .538 SLG) .

• Meredith Dietrick (20 games, .351 BA, 57 ABs, 27 runs, 20 hits, 10 RBI, 1 double, 7 walks, .464 OBP, .368 SLG).
• Addley Miller (24 games, .319 BA, 72 ABs, 14 runs, 23 hits, 23 RBI, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 11 walks, .419 OBP, .375 SLG).
• Mylea Fridley (19 games, .316 BA, 57 ABs, 20 runs, 18 hits, 9 RBI, 8 walks, .400 OBP, .316 SLG).
• Rhianna Clemons (23 games, .300 BA, 30 ABs, 10 runs, 9 hits, .382 OBP, .333 SLG).
• Madison Dearmon (24 games, .265 BA, 68 ABs, 7 runs, 18 hits, 20 RBI, 3 HR, 2 walks, .333 OBP, .426 SLG).
• Reagan Clemons (24 games, .194 BA, 62 ABs, 16 runs, 12 hits, 10 RBI, 2 HR, 6 hit-by-pitch, .311 OBP, .290 SLG).

In the circle for Hillsboro is Spruell (21-3), who has a 1.03 ERA in 150 innings pitched. Spruell has allowed 67 hits, 22 earned runs, 53 walks and has struck out 322 of the 594 batters she’s faced. Spruell for her career has over 1,000-plus strikeouts. 

Lakeview has three players who are batting over .500, as all three of those players have played in at least 25 games each this season. Senior Kennedy Bartlett in ’25 is batting .579 with 104 plate appearances and 95 at-bats. She’s collected 55 hits, 42 runs, 28 RBI, 10 doubles and five triples. She’s also walked seven times, collected nine steals and has struck out just seven times this season. Bartlett in ’25 has also built an on-base percentage of .608 with a .789 slugging percentage.

Another standout for Lakeview is junior Kalyssa Werner, who in 26 games is batting .571 with 106 plate appearances and 91 at-bats. Werner has scored 49 runs and collected 52 hits with 24 RBI, seven doubles, one triple, and two home runs. She’s also walked 14 times, has just five strikeouts and built an OBP of .629 with a SLG of .736. She also has seven steals. 

A power hitter for the Lady Bulldogs is junior catcher Mackenzie Stowe, as she’s played 25 games, where she has a .531 batting average with 92 plate appearances and 81 at-bats. Within her success at the plate, Stowe has 31 runs, 43 hits, 53 RBI, seven doubles, eight triples, eight steals and a team-best 11 home runs. She’s also added seven walks and only has four strikeouts this season. Stowe has a .565 OBP with a SLG of 1.222. 

In the circle, two players have split time pitching this season, with senior Ava Bacon in ’25 having an 11-0 record in 15 appearances. Bacon has a 2.37 ERA in 76.2 innings pitched. She’s allowed 67 hits, 43 runs (26 earned) with 35 walks and 105 strikeouts (338 batters faced). 

Another top pitcher for Lakeview is junior Isabella Isenberg, who in ‘25 is 10-4 with a 3.85 ERA. Isenberg has made 15 appearances in 87.1 innings allowing 104 hits, 70 runs, 48 earned runs, 30 walks, as she’s faced 413 batters with 381 at-bats.   

Other standouts for Lakeview include: 

• Rylee Barnot (.405 BA, 22 games, 74 AB, 30 hits, 23 runs, 8 RBI, .429 OBP, .419 SLG, .419). 
• Isabella Isenberg (.390 BA, 26 games, 82 AB, 12 runs, 32 hits, 27 RBI, 4 HR, .444 OBP, .585 SLG). 
• Linnea Kovac (.348 BA, 69 ABs, 12 runs, 24 hits, 16 RBI, 5 doubles, 2 HR, 3 walks, .375 OBP, .507 SLG).
• Annaliese Dejulio (.333 BA, 25 games, 72 ABs, 14 runs, 24 hits, 6 RBI, 6 doubles, 2 triples, .342 OBP, .472 SLG).
• Ella Collins (.307 BA, 26 games, 75 ABs, 14 runs, 23 hits, 5 RBI, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 5 walks, .341 OBP, .360 SLG).

The Division IV state semifinals will be held on Wednesday, June 4 at Firestone Stadium in Akron at 12:30 p.m. 

The first game of the Div. IV state semifinals will be Springfield Kenton Ridge vs. Lexington at 10 a.m. at Firestone Stadium.