MANSFIELD — Youth was served when the Ohio High School Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association unveiled the All-Ohio teams recently.
Five Richland County athletes earned All-Ohio citations and four of them are underclassmen.
Division III
Madison’s Caliyah Clapper and Ontario’s Elie Dawson were first-team picks in Division III, while Shelby’s Braylee Sturts was a second-teamer and Natalie Kennard was an honorable-mention selection.
A sophomore, Clapper pitched the Rams to the second regional championship in program history and a berth in the state semifinals. She was 13-6 with a 2.44 earned run average and 149 strikeouts. She was every bit as valuable at the plate, hitting .516 with 33 runs batted in.
Another of the area’s talented sophomores, Dawson batted .542 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs. She led Ontario to a district title and a berth in the Sweet 16.
A junior, Sturts hit .494 with 11 homers and 60 RBIs. She scored 41 runs.
The lone senior of the group, Kennard batted .514 with 45 runs scored. She will play collegiately at Ohio Dominican.
Division IV
Clear Fork junior Jada Brokaw was a second-team All-Ohio pick in Division IV.
An outfielder, Brokaw batted .429 with seven homers, six triples, four doubles and 32 RBIs. She scored 45 runs.