Softball: Bocock, Danville outlast Mannon, West Jeff to win DVI crown
Thursday, June 4, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Danville’s Addy Bocock, who has committed to Cedarville, tossed a complete game nine-inning shutout and the Blue Devils topped West Jefferson 2-0 Thursday in the OHSAA DVI championship game at Firestone Stadium in Akron. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Coach Charlie Duncan’s feeling that his Danville softball team might be “special” came to fruition at Firestone Stadium in Akron on June 4.
The Blue Devils outlasted West Jefferson 2-0 in nine innings in the Division VI title game behind a couple of clutch hits and a masterful pitching performance by Addyson Bocock.
The championship is the second all-time for the program, last winning in 2008 in the smallest of a four-division format.
“People doubted us at the beginning of the year,” he said. “They thought this would be a rebuilding year. We talked about reloading and doing what we do. I’m so proud of them. Each one of our seniors and our freshmen and sophomores (were) not acting like freshmen and sophomores – they were doing great things.”
Ruby Bartok was hit by a pitch with one out in the ninth inning and came around to score on a Morgan Hinkens triple off the top of the wall in left center.
Hinkins scored the insurance run on an Elizabeth John infield hit.
The Blue Devils (25-5) struggled to find any offense against West Jefferson pitcher Jenna Mannon. She retired 15 in a row and 20 of 21. Danville had two hits in the first inning and were held hitless until the ninth.
Overall, Mannon allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts over nine innings for the Roughriders (25-6).
West Jefferson’s Jenna Mannon, a Missouri commit, did not allow a run until the ninth inning as the Roughriders fell to Danville 2-0 in the DVI state title game in Akron. Photo: Kevin Rouch
As good as Mannon was, Danville’s Addyson Bocock was a smidge better. Bocock, a senior, allowed four hits and a walk in the complete-game shutout.
“She has a really good back-door curve,” West Jeff senior first baseman Hailey McBrayer said. “It kind of catches you off-guard. She knew it was working and she went with it. She has a good rising ball. We tried to lay off it, but it looks good. Other than that, she hits her spots.”
Bocock struck out 15 batters, including five strikeouts in a row from the second inning into the fourth.
“I knew it was going to be close, and we both (Mannon and I) were going to do our thing pitching,” Bocock said. “I knew I had to fight and do everything I (could) and my offense backed me up.”
As the calendar turned from March to April, the Danville softball team was still finding its way.
“I knew how hard these guys worked and I knew the potential we had,” Duncan said. “Once I saw what we did midseason, I thought we could do something special. The freshmen were correcting mistakes they had (made) earlier in the season, and the seniors were up on the fence after at-bats, saying, ‘Hey, you got the next one.’ It’s just special.”
Congrats to @DvilleSball for capturing the @OHSAASports DVI title with an exciting 2-0 nine-inning tilt against @WestJeff_AD. Both teams finish with outstanding seasons! pic.twitter.com/tJgEKhN32V
— CBUSsports (@CBUSsportsLocal) June 5, 2026
The Devils won the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference for the third time in a row. A 1-0 loss to Centerburg on March 31 might have been the turning point.
“We stranded 12 runners,” Duncan said. “That was a game we shouldn’t have lost and we’re never going to lose another game like that. And we didn’t. Centerburg’s a darn good team. That was the point we thought we could battle anyone.”
Bocock was leaned on heavily along the way. But others came through in big situations. The state title perfectly encapsulated that for Danville with Hinkens, a freshman, and John, a sophomore, coming through with the two biggest hits of the game.
“I knew (Mannon) was going to give me a pitch to hit,” said Hinkens about her ninth inning hit. She led the Devils with two hits for the game. “As soon as I saw it, I took it.”
Mia Burgett hit a two-out triple in the ninth inning to keep the Roughriders alive. After an intentional walk to Mannon, Bocock struck out Makailyn Messer to finish off the championship.
Mannon and Payton Kincade each hit doubles for West Jeff.
“It hurts because we care and that’s the main thing,” Roughriders coach Jim Stevens said. “It’s going to hurt. But we’ll rebound from that. I owe everything we’ve done to these five (seniors). We played hard and we never gave up. When you can take a state title game nine innings, you’re playing.”