Softball: Lopez drives Hilliard Bradley to first state title over Lancaster

Thursday, June 4, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com

Bradley's Sophia Lopez homers

Sophia Lopez gets Hilliard Bradley on the board with a first-inning home run against Lancaster during the Jaguars’ 7-5 state championship win Thursday in Akron. Photo: Kevin Rouch

Aubrey Allen was awfully jovial for someone that got hit in the head. But not nearly as happy as she was when she crossed home plate later in the inning.

Allen scored what turned out to be the winning run in the seventh inning for the Hilliard Bradley softball team in a 7-5 win over Lancaster in the Division I state final. 

Sophia Lopez drove in Allen and Mickey Moody with a two-run double to give the Jaguars their first state championship on June 4 at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

But it was Allen’s lead-off hit-by-pitch that jump-started the final inning, jumping up and down and yelling to the dugout as she made her way to first base.

“I knew I had to do something – either crush the ball, walk or something,” said Allen, a junior outfielder. “I knew Mickey (Moody) was coming up, so I just wanted to start off and bring the energy. Normally, when people get hit, they just take the base. I wanted to pump everybody up.”

The Gales had a streak of 19 consecutive wins snapped with the loss, including a 7-5 victory over the Jaguars on May 11.

Allen scored two runs out of the nine-spot in the batting order, also had a hit and a stolen base.

Lopez, a senior outfielder, who finished with two hits and three RBIs, hit a solo home run in the first inning and second-ranked Bradley (27-5) built a 4-0 lead through three and a half.

“I was really excited for it,” Lopez said. “I just knew that we prepared really well as a team for this and I knew that I could come through for my team.”

But a pair of errors to start the bottom half of the inning jump-started Lancaster (24-8). Lana Prince and Kendall Brown each had RBI hits to make the Jaguars pay for the mistakes and Kileigh Rohr two-run double tied it. Hannah Smith drove her home with a single and gave the Gales their first lead.

Allen manufactured the tying run with a bunt hit and a steal of second before Mickey Moody drove her home with a single to tie the score at 5 in the fourth inning.

“That one inning we thought the roof was going to cave in,” Bradley coach Kevin Moody said. “They stayed with it and found a way to get through it. Sophia had a huge hit at the end. And it could have been anybody. Yesterday, Audrey had a huge hit. They’ve just taken turns stepping up and getting the job done. Every single one of them trusts each other for that. I’m so proud of them for that.”

Bradley softball team with trophy

The Hilliard Bradley Jaguars celebrate their OHSAA state championship win Thursday at Firestone Stadium in Akron. Photo: Kevin Rouch

Moody, who started the game in the circle for Bradley, was charged with five unearned runs over 2 2/3 innings before giving way to Lucy Bennett.

Bennett tossed 2 2/3 innings, running into trouble in the sixth inning when Smith led off with a single and pinch hitter Julia Carsman worked a four-pitch walk.

Lainey Dennison coaxed a fly out to short left field and a popout to catcher Taylor Nicholson to end the threat. Dennison retired all five batters she faced to get the win for the Jaguars.

Smith and Hailey Rings had two hits apiece and Mackenzie Hedrick tossed 4 2/3 in relief, allowing three runs, two earned on three hits and took the loss for the Gales.

“I’m just happy,” said Rings, Lancaster’s senior shortstop. “Not only did we make history last year (making the state tournament for the first time), but we were able to come back this year. When we doubted ourselves the most (we were able) to get here once again.”

The Lancaster Golden Gales had a wonderful season and take one last photo with the state runners-up trophy Thursday at Firestone Stadium in Akron.