In a field that included Centerville, Hagerstown, Jay County, Lawrence Central, New Castle, Northeastern, Richmond and Rushville, the Centerville Lady Bulldogs and the Hagerstown Lady Tigers, two high-octane programs, easily won their opening-round games played on Friday, April 18, against larger enrollment schools. Centerville defeated Richmond 19-0 and Hagerstown defeated Rushville Consolidated 15-0. Both games were halted after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Northeastern lost a close game to New Castle by the score of 4-2.
Centerville 19, Richmond 0
Centerville starting pitcher Aubrey Seifer was in complete control from the opening pitch. In a complete game performance she only allowed two base hits, struck out 11 batters, and helped her own cause by collecting two hits and driving in two runs. Centerville was all business, scoring 13 runs in their first at bat. Kinley Rinehart and Madi Yount both collected three hits. Lilly Day and Yount both homered.
Richmond** (0-6) 0 0 0 0 0 ** 0
Centerville** (5-1) 13 1 0 0 5 ** 19
Richmond hits: Unavailable —** Centerville hits:** Day, Shelby Life, Mykilah Pamplin, Rinehart (3), Seifer (2), Ruby Snyder (2), Willow Thacker, Shelby Thomas, Haven Walter (2), Yount (3)
Hagerstown 15, Rushville 0
The Lady Tigers scored all the runs they needed in the top of the first inning and never looked back. Starting pitcher Rylan Young earned the shutout win, only giving up two hits.
Elly Cheeseman, Coley Parish and Allison Stinson each collected two hits for Hagerstown. Stinson drove in three runs. The Tigers also collected six walks and stole five bases in the game.
Rushville** (2-5) 0 0 0 0 0 ** 0
Hagerstown** (5-0) 3 4 3 4 1 ** 15
Hagerstown hits: Jerycha Allred, Cheeseman (2), Olivia Clinard, Jaylenn Dale, Emma Jarrett, Mackenzee Johnson, Parrish (2), Stinson (2), Young
New Castle 4, Northeastern 2
New Castle never trailed in their win. Kattie Mathews collected two hits for the Lady Trojans and was the only player for either team with more than one hit.
Northeastern** (3-3) 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 ** 2
New Castle** (4-2) 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 ** 4
Northeastern hits: Hailey Elsrod, Mackenzie Johnson, Macey Oler —** New Castle hits**: Calleigh Clayborn, Sydney Dobbs, Mathews (2), Emily Wells
Championship round games rained out
The championship round games scheduled for Saturday, April 19, were rained out. The much-anticipated possible clash between Centerville and Hagerstown will have to wait.
A version of this article appeared in the April 23 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.