North Adams Lady Devils fall 4-1 to Southeastern in district semifinal

North Adams’ postseason run ended in Athens on one inning that swung everything. Three defensive miscues helped Southeastern build a 4-0 lead in the fifth, and the Lady Devils could never fully recover in a 4-1 district semifinal loss that closed the book on their most successful season in school history.

The Lady Devils reached that point as the Division V No. 5 seed at 18-4, then backed up the seeding with a run-rule, 10-0 home win over Albany Alexander in the district quarterfinals on May 13. Carlee Garrison was sharp in that game, throwing a three-hit shutout, walking none and striking out seven as North Adams moved on to Ohio University for the semifinal. Head coach Paula Armstrong had called the bracket “very loaded,” and the path to Athens proved it.

Against Southeastern on May 19, North Adams stayed within reach until the Panthers took advantage of the Lady Devils’ mistakes. Southern Ohio Sports Authority reported that Southeastern scored three runs off three North Adams defensive miscues, then extended the margin to 4-0 before North Adams finally scored in the bottom of the fifth. The Lady Devils loaded the bases in that inning, but could not cash in enough to turn momentum. North Adams finished with three hits, and MaxPreps listed the loss as the team’s lowest-scoring game of the 2026 season.

Even in defeat, the semifinal showed how far North Adams had come. The quarterfinal win over Albany Alexander had already set a program benchmark, and the trip to Athens put Adams County softball in the district conversation deep into May. Photographs from the tournament captured first baseman Marley Whalen and right fielder Melanie Wood as part of the Lady Devils’ postseason run, a reminder that this group did more than collect wins. It pushed the program into new territory.

Southeastern advanced to face Meigs in the district final, while North Adams was left with the frustration of a game that turned on errors and one big fifth inning. For the Lady Devils, the next step will be carrying forward the pitching, pressure and postseason standard they built this spring, while making sure the margin for error shrinks in their favor next year.