GALLIPOLIS - Gallia Academy softball became the first Southeastern Ohio Athletic League team to clinch a spot in the championship game of this year's SEOAL Day of Champions event, as the Blue Angels won their second-straight SEOAL South Division title Friday evening with a five-inning, 12-1 victory over visiting Chillicothe at Memorial Field.

The Blue Angels (13-4, 9-0 SEOAL South) won their third straight game this week and also clinched a three-game series sweep of the Lady Cavaliers - who fell to 0-10 within the league. Gallia Academy also has the tie-breaker edge over runner-up Jackson (6-3) with three games left in divisional play.

The hosts never trailed in the contest and scored 12 straight runs through four innings while pounding out 11 hits. CHS - which scored its lone run in the top of the fifth - had only four safeties in the setback.

Afterward GAHS coach Jim Niday was pleased with the divisional-clinching triumph, especially since this one of the main targets for his troops at the beginning of year.

“We're happy to win any game that we are in, but one of our goals at the beginning of the year was to get back in the league championship game. We knew the only way to do that was to win the (SEOAL) South Division to get into that one-game playoff,” Niday commented. “I guarantee you that we will be looking forward to that game and whoever we play.

“ We're pretty pleased with where we are right now, but we are still going to keep taking things one game at a time. There is still a lot of softball to be played.”

The Blue and White lost in last year's SEOAL championship game at home to Marietta by an 8-1 count after finishing 11-1 in the SEOAL South. This year's SEOAL title game will be at the North Division champion's home site on Wednesday, May 7, at 5 p.m.

Starter Amy Noe made her return to the circle after sitting out two games with a bruised leg, and the sophomore was sharp in return as Noe allowed just one hit through four of her five innings of work. Noe - who gave up zero earned runs and one walk while fanning seven in the winning decision - also picked up her 20th career victory as a varsity pitcher.

GAHS started the scoring in the first as Hannah Cunningham led off with a single, then came home three batters later when Brittany Miller delivered an RBI double for a 1-0 advantage. Brittyn Saundes followed with an RBI double to score Miller, then Lindsey Niday provided another RBI double to plate Saunders for a 3-0 edge.

Kari Campbell followed that up with an RBI single that scored Niday for a 4-0 lead after one full inning. All four of the hosts' runs came with two outs.

Then in the second, Lindsay Ward led off the frame with a walk. Claudia Farney came in to pinch-run for Ward, and Farney soon scored after Cunningham followed with an inside-the-park home run for a 6-0 edge.

Kimber Davis was then walked, and a one-out single by Miller - combined with a CHS throwing error - gave the hosts runners at the coners with one out. Saunders hit into a fielder's choice, which allowed Davis to score for a seven-run cushion after two complete.

Both teams went scoreless in the third, but GAHS continued its offensive surge in the fourth with five runs. The Angels had three hits in that inning and also benefited from both Lady Cavalier errors in establishing a 12-0 edge.

The guests managed three hits and also benefited from one GAHS error in the fifth, which resulted in Chillicothe's lone score. Sam Jacobs scored that lone run after reaching safely on the error.

Eight different Angels had at least one hit in the triumph, with Miller leading the offensive attack with three hits. Cunningham was next with two safeties, followed by Saunders, Niday, Campbell, Noe, Stacy Cummons and Shayna Feustal with one hit apiece.

Cunningham and Saunders led the Angels with two RBIs each. Cunningham, Miller and Niday also scored twice in the decision.

Jacobs, Vanessa Montgomery, Karol Ojeda and Ashley Horsley each had one hit for the Lady Cavs. Annie Downing was the losing pitcher of record, allowing 11 earned runs and two walks while striking out one over four innings of work.

Gallia Academy returns to action Monday when it hosts Jackson in another SEOAL South contest at Memorial Field. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Gallia Academy 12, Chillicothe 1

5 innings

Chillicothe 000 01 - 1 4 3

Gallipolis 430 5x - 12 11 2

CHS (n/a, 0-10 SEOAL South): Annie Downing and Karol Ojeda.

GAHS (13-4, 9-0 SEOAL South): Amy Noe and Lindsay Ward, Shayna Feustal (5).

WP - Noe; LP - Downing.

HR: GA - Hannah Cunningham (second inning, one on, nobody out).