Dover’s title defense ends in regional semifinal upset
Heavily favored and on a roll that had lasted 57 weeks, the Tornadoes were upset 3-2 by the Bulldogs
Dover senior Madi Bantum and her teammates saw their hopes of a state title repeat end in regionals.
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There are few sure things in sports. Even the surest-looking ones can go awry.
Dover’s softball team became the latest example of that May 28 in a Division III regional semifinal against Bloom-Carroll at Berne Union High School in Sugar Grove.
Heavily favored and on a roll that had lasted 57 weeks, the Tornadoes were upset 3-2 by the Bulldogs, ending their dreams of back-to-back state titles.
Dover had trouble getting to Bloom-Carroll junior starter Emma Brandt, who struck out 12 while allowing just five hits. Brandt’s two-run third-inning single gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead after Dover had taken a 1-0 lead in the second.
Maddi Walters also hit a home run for Bloom-Carroll, giving the Bulldogs an insurance run in the fifth inning. Dover added a run in the sixth but could not get the equalizer. The game was a rematch of the regional final a year ago.
Bloom-Carroll scored three runs off Dover freshman Abby Lint, who had allowed just three earned runs all season. Dover had not allowed a run of any kind since May 8.
The Tornadoes took a 1-0 lead when Elle Tonya blooped a leadoff single to start the second inning, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, then scored on another throwing error.
The Bulldogs answered with two runs in the bottom of the third. No. 9 hitter Maddi Walters beat out an infield hit, after which Madelyn Gates doubled to deep left field. After a nice play by third baseman Ariana Immel, who caught Jaiden Sharrow’s bunt, Brandt slapped a single to right field to score a pair of runs.
In the fifth, Walters hit a 1-2 pitch over the right-center-field fence for a 3-1 Bulldogs lead.
Olivia McCue added a solo homer over the right-center-field fence off senior Kara Lint to lead off the sixth inning.
Bloom-Carroll went on to beat Jonathan Alder 15-0 the following day to advance to the state tournament. Dover, which finished 24-1, had not lost since April 26 of last year, winning 36 consecutive games. One of those was a 13-2 beatdown of Bloom-Carroll in the 2025 regional final. Brandt, 11-0 this year and unbeaten over the past two seasons, did not pitch in that game.
It was a rough weekend overall for area teams, four of which went to regionals with none emerging with a state tournament berth. The following is a look at how the other teams’ regional trips went:
Division V
Wheelersburg 10, Claymont 8
The Mustangs’ somewhat surprising run ended at the hands of the Pirates at Ohio University.
Claymont trailed 3-1 after an inning and 7-2 after three before scoring six times over the final three innings to put a scare into Wheelersburg.
The Mustangs pounded out 18 hits, including three each by freshmen Lexus Blair and Riley Fair, senior Abby Johnson and sophomore Hayden Lawhun. Riley Fair drove in four runs, while Lawhun scored three times.
Claymont finished 17-13.
Division V
Wheelersburg 7, Tusky Valley 6, 9 innings
Heartbreak was the only way to describe it for the Trojans, who rallied to score four times in the sixth and seventh innings and two more in the ninth, only to see the Pirates answer each time — once to send the regional final to extra innings and again to propel Wheelersburg to the state Final Four.
The Trojans, who had no hits through five innings, were down to their last strike when senior Hallee Borrell lined a single down the right-field line to score a pair of runs.
A pair of hits and an infield error allowed Wheelersburg to tie the score and send the game to extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth, the first two Trojans in the ninth were retired, after which Reichman was intentionally walked for the fourth time. Borrell immediately made Wheelersburg pay for that decision, doubling to score Reichman. Borrell scored moments later on Delaney Erickson’s single, giving Tusky Valley a 6-4 lead.
Sophomore Ava Beatty nearly blew the game open, but her deep fly ball to center field was caught.
Suddenly with one foot in the state tournament door, the Trojans couldn’t get all the way through.
A pair of singles and two doubles by Wheelersburg in the bottom of the ninth, all with fewer than two outs, were enough to bring home three runs for the Pirates, who were headed back to Akron and the Final Four.
In the regional semifinal, Tusky Valley beat Meigs 3-1 behind the pitching of Reichman, who tossed a one-hitter and struck out 14.
Junior Elliot Wallick led the offense with a pair of hits and a run. Freshman JJ Wallace had two hits and an RBI.
Tusky Valley, which had just two seniors in its regional final lineup, finished 24-5.
Division VII
Portsmouth Notre Dame 7, Strasburg-Franklin 2
The Tigers trailed 5-0 before stepping into the batter’s box and never seriously threatened from there, finishing their season 21-8.
They did not help their cause, making five errors in the contest, which accounted for three unearned runs.
Sofia Secrest led the Strasburg-Franklin offense with three hits, including a triple. The rest of the team combined for just four hits.
Notre Dame went on to beat Conotton Valley 3-2 in the regional final May 30.
