Two first-inning runs were all Lebanon needed to finally secure an Ohio high school softball championship.
Lebanon’s two runs in the top of the first inning of Sunday’s Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I title game turned out to be the difference in a 3-1 win against Centerville at Akron’s Firestone Stadium. It was the first-ever softball championship for Lebanon, which finished 28-4.
🥎#OHSAA SOFTBALL: Lebanon claims its first-ever softball state title with a 3-1 win against Centerville in the Division I championship. pic.twitter.com/eVWimsebZK
— OHSAA Sports (@OHSAASports) June 9, 2025
The Warriors got their two runs in the first on RBI singles from winning pitcher Sophie Sheidler and Paislee Stansberry. That 2-0 lead stood until the fifth, when Centerville (18-14) closed to within a run when Natalie Carr brought in Jenna Kirkpatrick on an RBI grounder.
But Lebanon added insurance in the top of the sixth on Stansberry’s RBI single, bringing in Kennedy Jauch. Stansberry ended up going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Sheidler did the rest, holding Centerville to just two hits while striking out nine. She also went 2-for-4, as did Jauch.
In the Division II championship game, Painesville Riverside also claimed its first-ever title after edging Mount Vernon, 8-6.
🥎#OHSAA SOFTBALL: Painesville Riverside takes the Division II title with a hard-fought 8-6 win over Mount Vernon. The victory marks the first state championship in school history.
— OHSAA Sports (@OHSAASports) June 8, 2025
Follow the entire 2025 OHSAA Softball Tournament here: https://t.co/TgyU3Q0Kpm. pic.twitter.com/ABIkrEHGDn
The Beavers (27-4) rallied from a 5-2 deficit starting with a solo home run by Madelyn Kevern leading off the fourth; then scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth to go in front. Kevern had an RBI double in that five-run fifth, while Madison Proud hit a double with the bases loaded, bringing in all three runners.
Proud drove in four runs. Olivia Powell and Samantha Granchi each went 2-for-3 with an RBI as well for Riverside. Pitcher Annaliese Davis got the win, allowing four earned runs and striking out six.
For Mount Vernon (27-3), Carly Kennedy, Hailey Rudrick, Brooklyn Dovenbarg and Grace Bates each had two-hit games along with an RBI.
In Sunday’s first championship game, New Madison Tri-Village completed a perfect 30-0 season with a 6-0 win against Sugarcreek Garaway to claim the Division VI title. It was also the first-ever softball state title for Madison Tri-Village.
🥎#OHSAA SOFTBALL: Madison Tri-Village completes an undefeated season with a Division VI state championship, securing the first softball state title in school history.
— OHSAA Sports (@OHSAASports) June 8, 2025
Follow the entire 2025 OHSAA Softball Tournament on the official OHSAA softball website. pic.twitter.com/E9KymNiIDw
Patriots’ pitcher Elizabeth Poling threw a three-hit shutout in the title-game win and struck out three batters.
The Patriots scored two runs apiece in the second, fifth and sixth innings. Emma Greer went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Tai Mize was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Aereonna Baker drove in two runs as well.
Kyleigh LaCroix had two of the three hits for Sugarcreek Garaway (20-11), going 2-for-3.