LEXINGTON — If there is a Mount Rushmore of Lexington softball, Todd Galownia is certain Makaree Chapman belongs on it.

It’s hard to argue with Lady Lex’s veteran coach.

The newly-minted North Central Ohio Player of the Year, Chapman pitched and hit Lexington to a place the program hasn’t been in more than two decades.

With Chapman leading the charge, Lexington won just the second regional championship in program history and reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2002. Lady Lex fell to eventual state champ Kenton Ridge, 4-3, last week in Akron.

“She’s one of the greatest ones I’ve coached, put it that way,” Galownia said afterward.

A Northern Kentucky recruit, Chapman hit .568 with 11 doubles, three triples and 12 home runs. She knocked in 48 runs and scored 41 more.

The hard-throwing left-hander was just as good in the pitcher’s circle. She was 24-4 with a 1.11 earned run average and 267 strikeouts in 150.1 innings of work, earning a spot on the All-Ohio first team in Division IV.

“She is someone I’ve grown with,” junior catcher Madyson Taylor said. “I’ve improved because of her and I could never be more grateful than to have Makaree be there.”

The feeling was mutual for Chapman, who transferred to Lexington from Ashland ahead of her junior year.

“When I moved in, they welcomed me like I was meant to be there,” Chapman said. “Lexington doesn’t realize how much it truly means to me.”

Chapman is the crown jewel of an All-North Central Ohio team that includes 12 All-Ohioans from Richland, Ashland and Knox counties. Here’s a look at the area’s best:

Catcher

Hailey Rudrick, Mount Vernon: The senior slugger batted .410 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs and 44 RBIs, leading the Yellow Jackets to a Division II state runner-up finish. She was a Licking County League first-team pick.

P.J. Endicott, Crestview: A first-team All-Ohio pick in Division V, Endicott batted .481 with eight doubles, three triples, six home runs and 35 RBIs. The senior was the Firelands Conference Player of the Year.

First Base

Kylie Thornton, Lexington: Lady Lex’s clean-up hitter, Thornton hit .389 with five doubles, three home runs and 37 RBIs as Lexington reached the Division IV state semifinals. Thornton was an All-Northwest District first-teamer.

Ruby Bartok, Danville: A junior, Bartok belted a team-best seven home runs as the Blue Devils rumbled to the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title. She batted .500 with 34 RBIs, landing a spot on the All-Ohio second team in Division VI.

Second Base

Campbell Kiser, Madison: A junior, Kiser helped the Rams win an outright Ohio Cardinal Conference crown and reach the Division III regional championship game. She hit .434 with 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 29 RBIs. She was an All-Northwest District honorable-mention pick.

Kiki McFadden, Hillsdale: The Falcons’ leadoff hitter batted .444 with 14 doubles and seven one runs, helping the Falcons win a Division VI district title. McFadden scored 37 runs and knocked in 32 more. She was an All-Ohio second-teamer in Division VI.

Third Base

Brooke Dovenbarger, Mount Vernon: The senior was a Licking County League first-team pick and helped the Yellow Jackets reach the Division II state championship game. Dovenbarger batted .440 with 32 RBIs and 20 runs scored.

Alicia Humphrey, Danville: The Knox Morrow Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a Division VI first-team All-Ohioan, Humphrey batted .531 with 16 doubles and six homers. The senior will play college softball for Division II Davis & Elkins (W. Va.).

Shortstop

Izzy Wamsley, Madison: Another of Madison’s talented sophomores, Wamsley was the straw who stirred the drink. She hit .462 and scored 38 runs, earning All-Northwest District honorable mention honors.

Edie Howard, Ontario: The senior was selected the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Howard batted .437 with eight doubles, six home runs and 25 RBIs. She was a Northwest District first-team pick and an All-Ohio second-teamer.

Utility

Braylee Sturts, Shelby: A sophomore shortstop, Sturts batted a team-best .427 with four doubles, three triples and seven homers. She was an All-MOAC first-team pick and an All-Northwest District second-teamer.

Abby Herren, Centerburg: A Miami (Ohio) recruit, Herren led the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference with 10 home runs. The junior batted .480 with nine doubles, five triples, 32 RBIs and 44 runs scored, earning a spot on the All-Ohio second team in Division V.

Left Field

Hailly Thrush, Clear Fork: A junior, Thrush ranked fourth in the MOAC with 30 RBIs. The All-MOAC first-teamer batted .400 with four doubles, three triples and six home runs. She was an All-Northwest District second-team selection in Division IV.

Abi Sapp, Danville: A senior, Sapp helped the Blue Devils win an outright Knox Morrow Athletic Conference crown and reach the Division VI district championship game. She ranked third in the KMAC with 39 RBIs and fifth with 41 runs scored, earning a spot on the All-KMAC first team.

Center Field

Carly Kennedy, Mount Vernon: A senior, Kennedy was another key piece of Mount Vernon’s state runner-up team. The Licking County League first-teamer batted .500 with 32 runs and 24 RBIs.

Jordyn Fickes, Hillsdale: A sophomore, Fickes caught the softball community’s attention when she became just the third player in state history to belt two grand slams in the same inning. She batted .480 with 12 doubles, a triple and eight home runs, drove in 36 runs and scored 30 more. Fickes was a Division VI All-Ohio honorable-mention pick.

Right Field

Ellie Dawson, Ontario: Just a freshman, Dawson batted .431 with six doubles, 10 home runs and 34 RBIs. Dawson was an All-Northwest District first-teamer and an All-Ohio honorable-mention selection in Division IV.

Karlie Walp, Shelby: A sophomore, Walp led the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with 36 runs scored. She batted .404 and added 13 RBIs, earning a spot on the All-Northwest District second team in Division IV.

Designated Hitter

Emma Stankovich, Madison: A senior, Stankovich batted .365 with seven doubles and 31 RBIs. She was an All-Northwest District honorable mention pick.

Carlee Crider, Crestview: A sophomore, Crider hit .570 with eight doubles, four triples and a home run. She scored a team-high 42 runs and knocked in 21 more, earning a spot on the All-Northwest District first team in Division V.