Fulton County Ohio Media

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It was Senior Night for the Swanton Lady Bulldogs softball team last evening before their game against fellow NWOAL foe, the Patrick Henry Lady Patriots.  A moment, always bittersweet and filled with emotion, to celebrate the contributions of players who have given their all to the program, and, at the same time, to say thank you and goodbye as their high school athletic careers draw closer to the end.

It was certainly a heart-warming send-off for the four seniors, Alexis Faber, Kendall Glonek, Carli LaGrange and Jordyn Ramirez.  Lots of laughs, tears, hugs, memories recalled and heart-felt sentiments recited to them in front of their families, friends, classmates, coaches and, of course, teammates.  When the ceremony ended, the seniors and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs had to quickly regain their composure and play a game with a great deal at stake.

A victory would break the Swanton school record of 19 wins in a season and would also put their mark in the NWOAL at a perfect 6-0, keeping their hopes of a league title alive when they travel to Bryan to face the undefeated Lady Golden Bears (20-0/6-0) in the year’s final league game.  The only thing better than a win to end such a memorable and emotional day, would be to do it in stunning Hollywood-scripted fashion.  And so, they did.

A furious rally in the bottom of the sixth inning erased Swanton’s second three-run deficit of the game and tied the score at 8-8.  Starting pitcher Beyla Remer and the defense kept the Lady Patriots off the scoreboard in both the seventh and eighth innings, allowing the Lady Bulldogs’ career leader in home runs, senior Alexis Faber, to come to the plate with a chance to make history.  One pitch, one swing and one ball driven far over the left field fence, gave the home team a 9-8 victory, sending Faber’s teammates rushing out to home plate to greet their hero and celebrate their record-breaking 20^th win of the 2026 campaign.

“It was an emotional pre-game with it being senior night.  My first year at Swanton was my current seniors’ freshman year, so I have a special bond with these seniors, plus our senior transfer Kendall Glonek,” commented Head Coach Lauren Yoder.  “This group Is gritty.  Not only have they shown that they can score a bunch of runs, but they can compete in close games, too. I am so honored that I get to coach this group of girls.”

The Lady Bulldogs (20-2) have several more games remaining, but none bigger than the road match-up with Bryan on Wednesday.  Regardless of the outcome of that game, and the results of the contests going forward, last night will be one forever etched in the memories of those four seniors, the underclassmen and the rest of the Bulldog faithful that were there in support.

Click on the link above to access photos and box scores from the game. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded and shared for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website

Photo: Faber waits on the pitch