INFIELD DEFENSE … Nevaeh Smith catches a pop fly in the early innings versus Hilltop.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SMALL BALL … Hilltop’s Brooklyn Kuszmaul looks to reach base via bunt in the Cadets’ 11-0 win over Edon. VIEW 121 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
BRYAN (May 20, 2026) — Hilltop received contributions from almost every spot in the lineup, and Kelsy Connolly was stellar on the mound as the Cadets beat Edon 11-0 in a Division VII district semifinal at Bryan.
The win pushed Hilltop’s record to 22-4 this season. “I was really pleased with the girls, they came out and made good contact tonight,” Hilltop coach Tom Schaper said.
“We have been working on hitting a lot and adjusting to the various pitchers that we are facing. It seems as every time you take that next step (in the tournament) you’ll face a pitcher that was better than the last.”
Just as they have much of the rest of the season, Hilltop got on the board in the first inning, thanks to the top of the order.
Halle Jones led off with a walk, stole second and went on to third when the throw to second was misplayed. Kenley Routt’s hard grounder was booted for an error, allowing Jones to mark the first tally of the game.
With two out, Connolly helped herself at the plate when she rapped a towering drive well over the left field fence to double the Cadet lead at 2-0.
The Cadets added on in the third with Jones igniting the rally. Hilltop’s shortstop again drew a walk and stole her way to third.
Routt’s infield single made it 3-0, and after Brooklyn Kuszmaul’s base hit, Connolly lifted a sacrifice fly to give the Cadets a 4-0 margin.
Again a Cadet came up with a run-scoring, two-out hit, this time it was Maggie Altman with a screaming line drive double that extended the lead to 5-0.
Hilltop put the game away by lighting up the board with six more runs in the fourth.
Carlee Schaffner and Jones came home on Routt’s two-run single, then later in the inning Sophia Crossgrove drilled a line drive off the scoreboard in left-center for a three-run homer that boosted the advantage to 11-0.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Connolly allowed just a pair of hits. Alexis Breier had a line drive single in the first, and Adison Briner pushed a base hit through the right side in the second.
Outside of those two hits, Connolly struck out seven Bombers while walking only one to get the victory.
Hilltop will now play Ayersville in a District Final Saturday at Defiance. “We know what we have to do to give Ayersville a game,” Schaper explained regarding Saturday’s opponent.
“If we come out and play, I think we have a shot. I think the girls know we have a shot, but we have to come out and play our game and not play with fear.”
Edon’s season ends with a 9-15 record.
EHS 000 00 – 0 2 1
HHS 203 6x – 11 10 0
WP-Kelsy Connolly (IP-5, R-0, H-2, K-7, BB-1)
LP-Lydia Tracey (IP-3.1, R-11, H-10, K-1, BB-3)
LEADING HITTERS: (Hilltop) Kelsy Connolly – home run, 2 RBIs; Sophia Crossgrove – home run, 3 RBIs; Maggie Altman – double, RBI; Kenley Routt – 3 singles, 4 RBIs. (Edon) – 2 singles.