AKRON — For the second time in four seasons Springfield is headed to a state softball championship game.

The 10th-ranked Blue Devils (23-9) used timely hitting to back the efficient pitching of senior right-hander Callee Chappetta in taking a 3-1 victory over fifth-ranked Boardman on Friday at Firestone Stadium in Akron.

Chappetta threw 64 of her 90 pitches for strikes, scattered six hits, struck out seven, and did not walk a batter in her complete-game win. Hannah Schlachter, Andrella Espino, and Camryn Hall each drove in runs in the triumph.

The Devils will face Dover in Saturday's D-III title game here at 8 p.m. The top-ranked Tornadoes (27-3) advanced by blanking eighth-ranked Mt. Orab Western Brown 7-0 in Friday's earlier semifinal.

Check back for updates.

See Full Page