The Bryan Golden Bears battled until the final out on Friday, falling 2-1 to Licking Valley in the Division IV State Semifinal despite outhitting the Panthers 4-3.
Bryan struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Averyann Fisher ripped an RBI double to give the Bears an early 1-0 lead. The game remained a pitcher’s duel throughout, with both teams making every play count.
Josey Arnold paced the offense with two hits, while Fisher finished 1-for-2 with the team’s lone RBI. Amiyah Langham also got a hit. Defensively, Bryan was flawless, committing no errors.
The Panthers pushed across the deciding run in the seventh inning, ending a remarkable season for the Golden Bears.
While the result wasn’t what Bryan hoped for, this team leaves Akron with plenty to be proud of. From an undefeated regular season to league, district, regional, and state tournament success, the Golden Bears demonstrated resilience, determination, and championship-level softball every step of the way.