The Danville softball team scored seven runs in the third and fourth innings, freshman shortstop Dalayna Parker went 3 for 4 and senior first baseman Ruby Bartok homered to send the Blue Devils to an 11-4 win over Dalton in a Division VI state semifinal June 3 at Firestone Stadium in Akron.
Senior pitcher Addy Bocock struck out 12 and scattered nine hits without a walk for Danville (24-5), which will face West Jefferson in an all-Central District final at 5:30 p.m. June 4.
The Blue Devils trailed 2-0 after half an inning, but freshman third baseman Kaylee Martin led off with a single and Bartok drew a one-out walk before Parker singled in Martin to make it 2-1.
Bartok’s one-out home run started the third-inning rally.
Singles from Parker and sophomore designated player Liz John preceded a go-ahead single from Taylor Meade. Sophomore outfielder Riley Johnston followed with an infield single to score John.
Parker drove in two more runs on another single in the fourth to increase the lead to 7-4, and an error brought in another run.
John singled home freshman outfielder Hailey King in the sixth to make it 9-4, and two more runs scored on an error and a sacrifice.
Freshman catcher Morgan Hinkens, John and Johnston each added two hits for Danville, which has made the final in each of its three trips to state. The Blue Devils won the Division IV title in 2008 and finished as runner-up in 2017.
Danville’s win made central Ohio 4-0 in state semifinals June 3.
Hilliard Bradley and Lancaster will meet in the Division I final at 3 p.m. June 4, and in the first Division VI semifinal West Jefferson shut out Van Wert Lincolnview 8-0.
Danville and West Jefferson’s most recent meeting was in a district final last year. West Jefferson won 3-0.
This story has been updated with a gallery and photo.
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Danville softball rolls past Dalton into OHSAA Division VI state final
Reporting by Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Dave Purpura, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
