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FAIRFIELD — A year ago, Little Miami High's softball team made a storybook run to the Division II regional semifinals.

However, this year's stay in the D-I tourney lasted just one game.

The No. 14 Panthers — who are just two girls over the limit — were upset by No. 25 Oak Hills 7-4 in nine innings in a Cincinnati 2 sectional contest Monday, May 12, at Fairfield Middle School.

"There's a big difference," Little Miami coach Randy Callahan said. "We tried to beef up our schedule with D-I this year, and there's a big difference between D-I and Division II — pitching-wise and at every position. Everybody out there is capable of making a play. We weren't up to the horse today."

The Panthers committed six errors, including three in the sixth that allowed the Highlanders to take a brief 4-3 lead.

But Little Miami tied it in the bottom of the sixth on Angie Sandmann's run-scoring single that plated Alex Ranney. Catie Luck's bunt single loaded the bases with only one out, but the Panthers couldn't push across the go-ahead run.

Little Miami had the winning run on second base in the seventh and eighth innings, but was unable to come through again.

However, Oak Hills did with three runs in the top of the ninth off right-hander Marika Baker (4-4). Jess Conners scored the go-ahead run on an error, and then Niki Tarter-Fox drilled a two-run double to provide Oak Hills with a cushion.

"I don't think we can come out and have errors and expect to win a ballgame," Callahan said. "Anytime you're playing at this level, you've got to come out and play error-free and we didn't do that. Errors killed us; cost us the ballgame."

Highlanders' coach Emily Futscher was satisfied her club was able to take advantage of the extra outs handed to them by the Panthers.

"I told my girls all year long to make them make the out," said Futscher, whose squad improved to 8-18. "Be a tough out, and they decided to be a tough out today. We put the ball in play. That's how you win ballgames."

Little Miami — which finishes the season 17-9 — loses four seniors: Sandmann, Ranney, Jessica Nichols and Chelsie Megie.

"We're pretty pleased," Callahan said. "We're young. The majority of our key personnel is coming back. It looks good for us next year. We're down, but we're not out yet. There's always next year."

Oak Hills advances to play No. 4 Harrison (19-6) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at Fairfield.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.

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