Chapman Leads Lexington to Division IV District Softball Championship as Captain
Galion — When the public address announcer at Galion’s Heise Park asked Lexington Softball’s senior captains to step forward and receive the 2025 Division IV district championship trophy, they might not have needed the possessive ‘s’.
Senior player Makaree Chapman from Lady Lex moved ahead, grasped a successive district championship trophy, and lifted it aloft over her head following Lexington’s win against the Clear Ford Colts with a score of 6-0 on Friday. This marked their third district title within four years. Chapman delivered an impressive performance, pitching a complete game with only one hit allowed and also contributed offensively with two hits, two RBIs, and a homerun, leading her team to triumph.
“It is surreal, for sure,” Chapman said. “Being the only senior, I am just taking it all in right now. I love playing beside these girls because they are like my sisters. I can’t wait to keep winning with them.”
Clear Fork threatened in the top of the first inning when Mel Blubaugh drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third but never crossed the plate as Chapman proceeded to strike out the next three batters as part of a seven-K game.
Lexington halted Clear Fork’s momentum and responded strongly at home during the first half-inning by scoring three runs. This surge was led by Chapman, who hit a two-bagger driving in a run, followed by scoring herself due to an error the next batter up. Camryn McGuire sealed the productive frame with an RBI base knock.
As planned, we began the game exactly as we intended,” stated Clear Fork coach Adam Brokaw. “Mel (Blubaugh) stepped into action; she managed to steal both second and third base, yet unfortunately, we failed to bring her home with a run. Had we scored during this sequence, I believe the outcome would have been quite distinct. Our opponents capitalized when they needed to—they executed a lucky bunt for a hit, benefited from an error, followed by a strong swing from Chapman which quickly turned things around. Finding ourselves playing catch-up against such a formidable team proved incredibly challenging.
Even with an initial 3-0 advantage, Lady Lex remained vigilant.
Lexington’s strategy remained consistent as Coach Todd Galownia recalled a previous instance where Clear Fork overcame an 11-2 disadvantage,” he stated. “Therefore, I was aware that we needed to continue executing whenever they threatened to create a significant frame. Our defensive stand in the opening inning set the right mood since it prevented their scoring and allowed us to capitalize during our turn at bat.
And Chapman never altered her approach within the ring despite having a cozy lead.
“It’s always wise to have that safety net, but our strategy has always been to push as hard as we can regardless of circumstances,” Chapman stated. “We never intend to hold back, particularly when facing a squad like Clear Ford with their knack for mounting comebacks. They’re an exceptional team that will never stop fighting, so I made sure to adhere steadfastly to our game plan irrespective of the scoreboard since momentum can shift instantly.”
It never did. The two teams went scoreless over the next four innings before Lady Lex broke through with three insurance runs in the sixth when Chapman belted a solo home run before freshman Addy Williams added a two-run homer. She and Chapman finished with two hits and two RBIs apiece while McGuire added a hit and an RBI and Quinn Patrick, who celebrated her 16th birthday with a district championship, and Kylie Thornton had one hit apiece.
Chapman then slammed the door in the seventh with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to cap off a 119-pitch outing with one of the biggest wins of her career.
“It is definitely not old because we knew these are never just given,” Chapman said. “It is always special, especially with this year being a completely different team than last season. It feels so great to celebrate with my teammates.”
As the only senior, Chapman entered the year with a lot of pressure to carry on the standard set before her. In 2022, Lexington won its first district title since 2011 and advanced to its first regional championship since 2006. In the last four seasons, Lex has three district titles and two trips to the Elite 8. But Chapman didn’t do it alone.
Galownia stated, “She understands that her teammates have got her support.” He further explained, “Each day we spend together, we discuss supporting one another during tough moments. There are just these 15 kids participating in this endeavor. Nobody else will come to their aid. They must rely solely on themselves and trust in their capabilities.”
Having a pitcher with 240 strikeouts was beneficial, however.
Brokaw mentioned, “She’s an excellent left-handed pitcher known for targeting the outer edge of the plate; her pitch tends to move inward, catching just the right side of the strike zone.” He added, “Her skill lies in getting ahead in the batting count and making batters swing at the specific pitches she desires them to hit. She stands out as exceptional.”
Addy Schlosser managed the only hit for Clear Fork (16-11) during the match. The team witnessed Blubaugh and Katrina Rogers play their last game wearing the Clear Fork colors. Blubaugh is an accomplished three-sport All-Ohio athlete who received accolades in her sophomore year for softball. Meanwhile, Rogers has been a dedicated four-year varsity player.
Brokaw mentioned, “Katrina really stepped up her game during the latter part of the year, and Mel has consistently shown remarkable performance within this roster for an extended period.” He added, “While it’s positive that we’re only saying goodbye to two seniors, these individuals play pivotal roles in our achievements and their departure will create significant gaps that will be challenging to bridge.”
Lexington (22-3) advances to the regional semifinals on Wednesday at an undetermined location, facing the victor between Milbury Lake and Clyde.
However, before reaching that point, it will savor the district championship.
“Each squad is distinct,” Galownia stated. “At the beginning of the season, everybody kept saying how much talent we had lost compared to last year’s team, and they believed we wouldn’t amount to anything—even though we were the reigning district champs. From day one, people dismissed our chances entirely. So, we resolved to fight each day to show that we’re better than what others think. And tonight, we showed just that.”
jfurr@gannett.com
740-244-9934
X: @JakeFurr11
The article initially appeared on Mansfield News Journal:
Chapman Leads Lexington to Division IV District Softball Championship
Leave a Reply
