Clear Fork softball scores 16 in the first, wins first district title since 2017

CASTALIA — As soon as the Clear Fork Colts stepped off the bus for their OHSAA Division IV district championship game against Lima Bath, they wanted to set the tone. It didn’t take them long. All the Colts needed was one inning to do all the damage they needed to do to win the first softball district championship since 2017 with a 19-2 victory Friday, May 22.

The Colts scored 16 runs in the first inning to set the tone in a major way and put it in cruise control the rest of the way in the run-rule victory. POSTSEASON TRACKER: 2026 spring sports postseason tracker | Track, tennis, softball and baseball all in action That first-inning outburst was something super sophomore Presley Lilly had never been a part of in her softball life. “Maybe like 10 or 12, but never 16,” Lilly said.

“I have never had three at-bats in one inning. That was insane. I was just going up thinking base hit, find a way to score runs because that is the most important thing in softball.

” Lilly led the Colts with two hits and four RBIs while Chloe Steward added two hits and three RBIs. Hailly Thrush had a hit and three RBIs with a home run, Kylie Ludwig had a hit and two RBIs, Braylee Wenger had two hits and an RBI, Jada Brokaw and Karlynn Mortimer had a hit and an RBI apiece and Mya Perry rounded out the offense with one hit. Nearly all of their damage came in the first inning as they batted around three times.