Hillsdale Falcons secured a dominant 19-0 victory over the Knights in the Division VI sectional championship, showcasing their development in the tournament opener.
Key points
Hillsdale won 19-0 against the Knights
Game took place on May 13, 2026
Jillian Cowger and Macy Mager were key players
Victory highlights team development
Match was part of Division VI sectional championship
Hillsdale FalconsKnightsDivision VI sectional championship
Hillsdale's Jillian Cowger waits on third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Macy Mager winds up to pitch against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Aurora Martin catches the final strikeout against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Kiki McFadden hits a pop-up to the shallow outfield against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Macy Ritchey takes off to first base after a line drive. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Hillsdale vs. Knights game?
Hillsdale won the game against the Knights with a final score of 19-0.
Who were the standout players in the Hillsdale sectional championship?
Jillian Cowger and Macy Mager were notable players for Hillsdale during the sectional championship.
When did Hillsdale play the Knights in the sectional championship?
Hillsdale played the Knights in the Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
What does this win mean for Hillsdale's season development?
The win serves as an opportunity for Hillsdale to continue developing their skills and teamwork as they progress in the tournament.
Related Articles
Sports
Will F1 go back to the future with its engines?
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Forget Bastoni – La Masia gem could be the solution to Barcelona’s left-footed centre-back problem
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Bayern Munich nearly loaned Lennart Karl out because no one believed in him
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
From Ouagadougou to Leverkusen: Edmond Tapsoba’s amazing journey
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
How to watch EVERY remaining PL game
Don't miss any Premier League action! Here's how to watch every game live.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Hillsdale's Emily Smith makes a move toward third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Kennedy Fickes scores a run. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Emily Smith puts a ball in play against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Macy Mager pitches against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Jordyn Fickes watches a pop up before taking off to first. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Jillian Cowger catches a flyout to left field. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Kennedy Fickes high fives first base coach Emily Crossen after drawing a walk against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Emma Linder warms up between innings against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
1 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Jillian Cowger waits on third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
1 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Jillian Cowger waits on third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
2 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Macy Mager winds up to pitch against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
3 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Aurora Martin catches the final strikeout against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
4 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Kiki McFadden hits a pop-up to the shallow outfield against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
5 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Macy Ritchey takes off to first base after a line drive. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
6 / 13
Hillsdale uses tournament opener as opportunity to continue developing
Hillsdale's Emily Smith makes a move toward third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
7 / 13
Hillsdale uses tournament opener as opportunity to continue developing
Hillsdale's Kennedy Fickes scores a run. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
8 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Emily Smith puts a ball in play against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
9 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Macy Mager pitches against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
10 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Jordyn Fickes watches a pop up before taking off to first. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
11 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Jillian Cowger catches a flyout to left field. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
12 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Kennedy Fickes high fives first base coach Emily Crossen after drawing a walk against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
13 / 13
PHOTOS: Medina Christian at Hillsdale softball (D-VI sectional final)
Hillsdale's Emma Linder warms up between innings against Medina Christian. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
JEROMESVILLE - Wednesday's tournament opener provided a bit of a reprieve from the Wayne County Athletic League gauntlet for Hillsdale.
Coming off a one-run loss to Dalton the night before — one that dashed Hillsdale's hopes at sharing a conference title in the final game of the regular season — the Division VI sectional championship against No. 31 Medina Christian Academy gave the Falcons an opportunity to fine-tune aspects of their game in a live situation.
They won comfortably 19-0 over the Knights and ended each inning by stepping off the base early.
"Last night I thought the girls played a pretty good game," Hillsdale coach Nicole Smith said. "Dalton's pitcher ... she's good, strong pitcher (and) she knew where to throw us.
"We knew this game was going to be a little more relaxed, so we were working on getting good leadoffs, being disciplined at the plate, and working on some defensive strategies. My pitchers were working on throwing some different pitches depending on the count and working on sequencing so we could get ourselves warmed up for the next couple weeks."
Hillsdale's Kennedy Fickes scores a run. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Kennedy Fickes scores a run. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Even throwing new pitches, Macy Mager was unhittable for three innings in the circle striking out nine batters on 33 pitches before Emma Linder tossed the final two innings fanning five on 30 pitches.
"It helped us work on our defense a bit, mostly pitchers and catchers," Smith said. "We have three talented pitchers on varsity right now, so it's nice we can work on something like if we have an 0-2 count, we'll work on a different pitch ... and we're making sure we're covering where we need to if the ball is put in play."
There wasn't much work for the infield and outfield, Jillian Cowger caught a fly out in left field for the only non-strikeout out of the night.
Instead, the rest of the team worked on approaches at the plate with plenty of opportunities to do so. The Falcons sent 10 batters up in all four innings with every single player featured either scoring a run or driving one in.
Emily Smith had two hits, four runs, and three stolen bases, Macy Ritchey was 2-for-2 with three runs, three RBIs, and one walk, Julia Murawski matched her at the plate adding four RBIs and drawing a walk. Joslyn Fickes drove in a trio of runs, Kennedy Fickes scored four runs and drew three walks, Ally Morgan three runs on three walks and two stolen bases, Jordyn Fickes two runs.
Hillsdale's Emily Smith makes a move toward third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
Hillsdale's Emily Smith makes a move toward third base. The Falcons cruised to a 19-0 win over the Knights in a Division VI sectional championship on May 13, 2026.
"Usually if it's a 3-0 count we take a different approach, but tonight I told them if it's there, make sure you have a good swing and we're making hard contact with it," Smith said. "It doesn't matter how fast the pitcher throws, you still have to make hard contact with it to go somewhere, so we were working on staying down and not popping up ... focusing on the mechanics. I told them to be disciplined and there were a couple times when I told them to swing, but it was a little high ... they said they wanted to stay disciplined at the plate and we didn't want them to create bad habits."
The Falcons revert back to league play to close out the week hosting Dalton on Thursday and traveling to Norwayne to finish a previously delayed game the Bobcats lead 1-0 in the bottom of the second. While the WCAL title is out of reach, two quality showings would go a long way for a Hillsdale team that isn't ready for the season to end anytime soon.
"It allows us to see different things and see where some of our weaknesses are," Smith said of ending the regular season with Dalton and Norwayne. "We talked (Tuesday) night about what we could have done better, so playing these tough teams then rolling into the tournament is great — that's what we look forward to doing."
Hillsdale will then host either Newton Falls or Campbell Memorial on Monday in a district semifinal.
"No one likes to play on Monday, but we'll be ready after playing these two tough games for sure.," Smith said.
