Hillsboro Indians softball
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Brock Netter

Brock is SOSA's primary writer and has worked for the Coshocton Tribune, the Kankakee Daily Journal (Ill.), the Vinton-Jackson Courier and the Jackson Telegram. He's a six-time award-winning journalist, a lifelong WWE fan, a suffering Bengals fan and calls the sidelines his home.

Hillsboro looks dominant, tops Logan Elm to clinch first-ever Final 4 trip

The Indians are headed to Akron.

Brock Netter, Editor

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

GROVEPORT — Lookout Akron, here come the Hillsboro Indians. 

Fueled by timely hits, high-level base-running and 11 strikeouts from senior Camryn Spruell, the Indians (22-3) defeated Logan Elm by a 5-2 final in a Division IV regional final. 

“This is the reason these young ladies put in long hours of work and extra days, doing the little things right,” Hillsboro coach Gary Breeden said. “Now they’re seeing the fruits of their labor and it’s pretty incredible to watch this team achieve what they’ve set out to do this season.”

It marks the first regional title in program history. 

“This moment is everything, and for us eight seniors, this has been our goal since middle school,” Hillsboro’s Rhianna Clemons said. “We knew that we were going to grow together, and this was the goal, to get to Akron. So this is going to be our year.”

After two and a half scoreless innings, Logan Elm (21-7) suffered a rough-go in the bottom of the third.

With a runner on, via a hit by pitch, Hillsboro popped the ball up, only for the Braves to drop it. On the same play, they committed a throwing error, scoring the runner for a 1-0 Indian lead. 

Chloe Roberts stepped up in the next at-bat and found a gap through the left side for an RBI single, extending their advantage to 2-0. 

With momentum on their side, the Indians kept their foot on the gas. 

They loaded the bases, following two singles and a fielder’s choice, paving the way for Rhianna Clemons to slap a two-run single through the right side for a 4-0 lead. 

“I knew she was going to work me instead since I got a hit the previous at-bat. My goal was simply to get a hit and drive the runners home,” Clemons said. “My grandpa has always been my biggest supporter and he always tell me to find a hole in the field. She finally threw me the pitch I wanted, and even though I kind of pulled it, I found an opening up the middle.”

Roberts stepped up three batters later and notched her second RBI single of the game, pushing the lead to 5-0. 

Logan Elm got a pair of runs on the board in the top of the sixth, thanks to two Hillsboro fielding errors.

But the damage had already been done at that point as Spruell and company got the next four outs to punch their state semifinal tickets. 

“This is a selfish team in the sense that they all want to be better than each other. But they’re incredibly selfless because they’ll do whatever it takes for the betterment of the team,” Breeden said. “They want to be the best and that competitive drive, alongside that common goal, has us in this position where we’re heading to Akron.”

Following Spruell’s day in the circle, Roberts finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs while Clemons was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

For Logan Elm, Sadie Binkley suffered the loss in six innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs.

As Logan Elm’s season comes to an end, Hillsboro moves onto a Division IV state semifinal against Cortland Lakeview, who defeated Perry 5-1 to advance.

That game will happen at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Akron’s Firestone Stadium.

SPONSORED BY BO LACEY CONSTRUCTION AND KINGSTON NATIONAL BANK

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