Shafer bulldogs way through injuries, leads Colts to district final

MARGARETTA — Clear Fork coach Adam Brokaw is going to find the biggest role of bubble wrap he can and encase Miley Shafer with it. At least until Friday night. KEEP UP WITH THE POSTSEASON: 2026 spring sports postseason tracker | Black River into title game His junior pitcher is dealing with a plethora of injuries ranging from inflamed sacroiliac joints in her lower back and pelvis, hip flexors that are stretched to their absolute limit and a sprained ankle suffered one batter into the sectional championship game last week.

And yet, she pitched arguably the best game of the season in a 5-0 Division IV district semifinal win over No. 1 seed Oak Harbor on May 19 at Margaretta. Shafer allowed no runs on just four hits with one strikeout and one walk in a complete game masterpiece where she forced lazy pop flies and easy ground balls for the Colts’ defense to eat up error free.

“I am so comfortable with them behind me,” Shafer said. “My defense is amazing, and everyone knows exactly what they are capable of. They make it so I can keep my composure because every ball that is hit, they make those plays.

” On the long bus ride to Margaretta, Brokaw still didn’t know who was going to be his starting pitcher. With Shafer dealing with her multitude of injuries, he was leaning toward going with No. 2 pitcher Mariah Hatfield.