Lady Falcons Fall in State Semifinal

The quest for a third OHSAA Division 1 State Championship in four years has finally come to an end for the Fitch softball team as the Lady Falcons suffered their first loss of the year in the State Semifinal on Wednesday at Firestone Stadium in Akron. Fitch not only lost for the first time all season, but the normally potent offense was stifled as the Lancaster Lady Golden Gales shut out the designated home team by a score of 4-0.

Kaliana Ray led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and then took off on a double steal to get into scoring position at third. Unfortunately for the Lady Falcons, Ray was left stranded as Fitch ended the home half of the frame with three consecutive outs. That would end up being the theme of the day as Annabel Mikesell got on base in the second inning with a walk followed by a Lily Stevens single. Both were left on the bags as the next batter struck out.

Still unable to generate offense in third, Lancaster took advantage and went up 1-0 to break the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth on three hits including a sacrifice RBI to get on the board. Again, the Lady Falcons were unable to capitalize in the bottom frame with two runners on base as Morgan Roby got on with a bunt single along with Seneca Coates who hit a line drive single. Neither team reached the bags in the fifth inning and the score remained 1-0 in favor of Lancaster.

Then, in the top of the sixth, the Lady Golden Gales essentially put the game away with four hits including a two RBI double and a sacrifice RBI which allowed Lancaster to extend its lead to 4-0. The bottom of the sixth saw the Fitch batters go down in order as the game went into the deciding final frame. Seneca Coates singled and stole second to get the Lady Falcons into scoring position but with the game, an undefeated season, and a trip to the state title game on the line, the contest ended with a fly out followed by a strikeout by the final two hitters.

In all, Fitch left six runners stranded on the day and managed just five hits with Seneca Coates hitting 2 singles and Morgan Roby, Lily Stevens, and Kaliana Ray each hitting one apiece. Annabel Mikesell was the only other baserunner as she reached on a walk.

Freshman Mila Hamley struck out 8 as she took the first loss of her career and finished her debut campaign at 22-1. She also surpassed 200 strikeouts to finish the season with a total of 206 to start her career.

With the loss, the Lady Falcons close out 2026 with a record of 26-1 on the season as the Lady Golden Gales move on to the state title game with a 24-7 record and riding a 19 game winning streak.

Playing in their final game in a Lady Falcons uniform, seniors Kylie Folkwein, Miauna Jorge, Morgan Roby, Alyssa Rodgers, Kameryn Scandy, Lily Stevens, Miley Summerville, and Abby Toth move on after leaving a lasting legacy on the program. Winners from the start, the aforementioned group won back-to-back OHSAA Division 1 State Championships in their freshman and sophomore seasons of 2023 and 2024, and compiled an incredible record of 91-7 while reaching the State Final Four three times in four years.