Fulton County Ohio Media

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rZWM2xQzbT43j5oo9

The 2026 Swanton softball season, a dream season that reached historical levels, came to an end on Wednesday afternoon when the Lady Bulldogs dropped a 9-4 decision to the Paulding Lady Panthers at Napoleon High School.  Early pitching control issues and several uncharacteristic defensive errors placed Swanton into a 5-1 hole after three innings that the Lady Bulldogs were unable to crawl out of. 

The Paulding coaching staff, obviously paying close attention to the scouting report, chose to intentionally walk Swanton’s dangerous power hitter, Kendall Gloneck, batting in the clean-up spot, all four times she came to the plate.  The strategy failed in Gloneck’s second at bat when Carli LaGrange, hitting next and who also swings a big bat, drove a pitch deep over the left field wall to pull the Bulldogs within two runs at 5-3.  LaGrange later singled following Gloneck’s third free pass but Swanton was unable to capitalize.

The Lady Panthers put up a four-spot in the top of the sixth inning for a six-run advantage and the Lady Bulldogs were only able to add one more run in the bottom of the seventh for the 9-4 defeat.  The loss was just the fourth of the year for Swanton against a school record 24 wins.    

Click on the link above to access photos 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: Lady Bulldogs celebrate Carli LaGrange at the plate following her two-run blast