Hopewell-Loudon remains unbeaten with 9-1 win over Parkway in Division IV state semifinals

The Chieftains scored seven runs in the first two innings

AKRON, Ohio – Hopewell-Loudon came into Friday’s OHSAA Division IV state semifinal matchup against Parkway without having suffered a loss this season. The first loss wasn’t coming on this day, either.

The Chieftains showed why they are undefeated with a 9-1 win at Firestone Stadium.

Hopewell-Loudon jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a triple by Sidney Brickner that scored Kacie Fletchner and Taryn Hampton. It was the end of a slump for the sophomore, who was 0-for-8 in the regionals.

“I just knew the stuff I needed to fix, and I wanted to be there for the team,” Brickner said. “I just relaxed, took deep breaths, and tried to do my job.

And then the Chieftains opened the floodgates with five runs in the second inning.

Ashley Daniel led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Natalie Holman. Brynn Sendelbach and Addison Siebenaller followed with walks to load the bases for the top of the order.

Hampton smashed a double down the left field line to score a pair and then Kylee Malagon followed with a two-run single. Shea Haper then hit a scorching line drive that tipped the top of the shortstop’s glove and went into left field to plate another run.

“(They were both) high and inside,” Hampton said of the pitch she hit after she had hit the previous one foul. “I try to be helpful to the team, just doing anything to help the team out.”

When the inning ended, Hopewell-Loudon had a 7-0 lead.

“We have an inning when we usually score a few runs,” Hopewell-Loudon head coach Tony Malagon said. “We try not to hang our hat on that, but that's kind of through the whole season how it's been.

In the fourth inning, it was again Brickner with a triple to bring in a run, as she scored Holcomb to make it 8-0 and the Chieftans tacked on another run in the sixth on an RBI double by Isabelle Beidelschies.

Parkway got on the board in the seventh, when Paige Stephenson singled to bring home Brittyn Burns.

In the circle, Beidelschies went the distance and allowed just the one run on five hits and four walks and struck out five.

This is the first trip to the state tournament for Hopewell-Loudon and the Chieftains will now take on either Gibsonburg or defending state champion Strasburg on Saturday at 5:30 pm.

“We're happy to be here,” Malagon said. “We play Chieftain ball (and if) we play our ball, we have to like our chances.”