AKRON — The Danville girls softball team captured the 2026 Division VI state championship in dramatic fashion with a 2-0 extra-innings thriller over West Jefferson on Thursday night in Akron.
The fifth-ranked Blue Devils (25-5) rode the shutout pitching of Addyson Bocock, and pushed across the winning run in the top of the ninth-inning to secure the second state title in school history. The 2008 team won the Division IV crown, and the 2017 squad was state runner-up.
Bocock fanned 15 with just one walk while allowing four hits in the complete-game effort to collect the win. The Danville defense sparkled behind her with an errorless performance.
The Roughriders finished a fine season with a 25-6 record. Pitcher Jenna Mannon was the tough-luck loser. She twirled a complete game with 10 strikeouts, but gave up a pair of earned runs in the last inning.
Catcher Morgan Hinkens spearheaded the Danville offense with two of the team’s four hits, including the game-winning RBI with a triple to deep left field that scored Ruby Bartock (who reached after being hit by a pitch).
Elizabeth John’s single plated Hinkens to finish the scoring.
West Jefferson threatened in the bottom of the ninth, but a strikeout ended the game with the tying runs on base.
At the plate, Mannon poked a double, while teammate Mia Burgett stroked a triple among the Roughriders’ four hits.
(Photos below were taken by Dan Werner)
