Lexington falls to Bryan in Division II regional final; Lex seniors end careers with 80 wins

SHELBY — Win No. 81 just wasn't meant to be.

The Lexington Lady Lex softball seniors of Kaylie Eichorn, Kylie Galownia, Jillian Morr and Emily Asher saw their careers come to a close Friday night in a 4-1 Division II regional championship loss to Bryan, bringing their career record to 80-29 as four-year varsity members. They accomplished a lot during their high school softball days; winning two district championships, putting two regional runner-up trophies in the case and taking home the first Ohio Cardinal Conference title since 2009.

LASTING LEGACY: Lady Lex seniors focused on winning now, lasting legacy later ahead of regional showdown

So as disappointing as it was to walk off the field at Shelby High School with a loss in their last game, it was tough to be disappointed with the overall product.

"I haven't been able to really even think about it," Lexington coach Todd Galownia said about the 2024 season as a whole. "For two days, all I thought about was this game, but when you really think about it, these seniors won 80 games in their careers and has to be considered the best class to come though in a long time. The leadership we will lose is irreplaceable. They are all winners and will go on to do good things."

Lady Lex saw Bryan take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when the Golden Bears drew a two-out walk before laying down a bunt and seeing the throw tick off a glove and into right field, allowing the runner from first to come all the way around to score an unearned run.

Lexington got one back in the third when Asher drew a walk to leadoff the inning and scored on a Jillian Morr RBI double to left as Lex had something cooking with one out and a runner on second. Quinn Patrick laid down a bunt to sacrifice the runner over but Morr was thrown out trying to score on an aggressive base running play to end the inning on a double play.

It seemed to completely change the complexion of the game as Bryan hit two home runs in the third inning, one a two-run homer with no outs and then a solo shot with two down to put the Golden Bears ahead 4-1. The score stayed that way as Bryan sophomore pitcher Thea Staten struck out the final seven Lady Lex batters of the game.

"Some of these kids have never seen a pitcher of that caliber and it is hard to get out there and do something against that," Galownia said. "(Lexington pitcher) Makaree (Chapman) did her job. They got into a couple and that is what it comes down to sometimes. In games like this, you make a couple of mistakes, they score a couple runs and it is hard to battle back."

Chapman allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in six innings of work as the Lexington defense committed three errors. Staten allowed one run on three hits with 13 strikeouts and two walks in a complete-game victory.

"I think we out-hit them, but we just didn't get the runs when we needed to," Galownia said.

Morr, Kylie Galownia and Kyra Boyd had one hit apiece with Morr and Boyd having doubles. Morr had the lone RBI. Lady Lex ends the year 28-3.

"To win 28 games, which has to be a school record, that is an amazing accomplishment," Todd Galownia said.

They will return five starters from Friday's game and the expectation is to live up to the standard set by the 2024 team.

"We have the blueprint," Todd Galownia said. "We know what it takes to get back here. You have to show up to every open gym, you have to work out and do everything you have to do to get back. These seniors showed us that."

The seniors took off after receiving their medals and team trophy for taking runner-up honors and made it just in time for Lexington's graduation ceremony. They walked across the stage as the winningest class in Lexington softball history with three 20-win seasons.

"They are very special," Todd Galownia said. "Three of them I have coached since they were 9 years old. Emily came along a couple of years ago and I have had Jillian, Kaylie and Kylie since they were babies. Kylie literally. Those three are going to continue to play and Emily is going to Bowling Green to continue her education. All four are going to do amazing things in their lives. I couldn't be any happier for and proud of those seniors."

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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington falls to Bryan in OHSAA Division II regional softball final