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Jersey Shore softball falls to Athens in District 4 playoffs

By CHRIS MASSE 3 min read

Jersey Shore seniors Isabelle Engel, Jaymison Stellfox and Kalyssa Johns have their fingerprints upon two District 4 Class AAAA championship trophies.

They will not get a chance to place them on a third, but what a run it was throughout their four years. The trio won two district championships, a league title and played in three consecutive district finals.

That memorable run came to an end Saturday at Elm Park as Gretchen Hiley threw a dazzling one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts, helping Athens dethrone two-time defending champion Jersey Shore, 2-0 in the district semifinals. They will not play another high school game, but Engel, Stellfox and Johns certainly left their mark.

"I sure wish we could have gotten them to a fourth straight championship game. It’s been a pleasure and honor to coach them for four years," Jersey Shore coach Chris Lorson said. "We came up a little short today and it’s their turn to pass the baton onto the others and they did a nice job leading by good example."

Engel combined with Lynna Clark to slow Athens’ offense, the two combining on a five-hitter. Hiley, though, was nearly unhittable, continuing her sensational sophomore season. The hard-throwing left-hander took a no-hitter into the fourth inning, fanned multiple hitters in an inning five times and let just two runners reach second base.

Kylie Schall capped her strong sophomore season with a fourth inning single, and Clark walked, while Makayla Wrench reached on an error. That was it, though, as Hiley improved to 17-1 with 247 strikeouts in 121 1/3 innings this season, helping Athens (20-1) earn a spot in Wednesday’s championship against Central Columbia.

"She pitched a great game, and both teams played good games," Lorson said. "They have a solid team, and I wish them nothing but the best."

Hiley also delivered at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double. Hiley led off the bottom of the first with a double, but Clark heated up and would have escaped the jam had it not been for an error. She allowed just three hits in four innings and struck out four before Engel retired the final four batters she faced, working a perfect sixth inning.

Maddie Hiley hit a fifth inning RBI single which put Athens ahead, 2-0. That lead felt a lot bigger the way Gretchen Hiley was throwing. Still, Jersey Shore fought throughout the game and had a few chances.

Wrench reached on a two-out error in the third and stole second, but Hiley ended the threat with a strikeout. An inning later, Clark walked and Schall hit a two-out single in a 1-0 game, but Hiley again responded, blowing another pitch by for an inning ending strikeout. That was the start of Hiley emphatically closing the game as she retired the final 10 batters she faced.

It was not the ending Jersey Shore had hoped for, but a strong foundation remains in place for a perennial title contender. That baton gets handed off to the next dedicated group and now they will try and help Jersey Shore cross the finish line in 2026.

"We have some strong underclassmen; some strong players coming up as freshmen," Lorson said. "Hopefully, we can pick it up and start it all over again."

Jersey Shore      000 000 0―0 1 1

Athens      100 010 x―2 5 1

Lynna Clark, Isabelle Engel (3) and Annika Clark. Gretchen Hiley and Memphis Paul. W―Hiley. L―L. Clark

Top Jersey Shore hitters: Kylie Schall 1-3. Top Athens hitters: G. Hiley 2-3, 2 2B, R; Paul 2-3; Maddie Hiley 1-3, RBI.

Records: Athens 20-1. Jersey Shore 10-8.

Starting at /week.