High school softball: Amherst's Leah Sprague named county Miss Softball

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — Leah Sprague concluded the best four years of her life by earning Lorain County's highest honor. The Amherst senior was presented the 2026 Lorain County Miss Softball Award on Tuesday prior to the Lorain County Softball Senior All-Star Game at North Ridgeville High School. Sprague is the third Comets player in the last five years to win the award presented annually to the top senior softball player in the county. "I had the best coaches and best teammates supporting me, it's been the best four years," Sprague said. "Thats what I'm here right now." Sprague, who will continue her softball career next year at the University of Findlay, batted for a .402 average in her senior year with five home runs, 22 RBIs and 27 runs scored. "Awards are great but when you can put yourself aside and not focus on individual accolades and put the team first that's when these kind of good things happen and that's what Leah has done," said Amherst coach Lacey Reichert, herself a Miss Softball winner for Amherst in 2000. "It couldn't have happened to a better person than Leah. "She only ever wanted to win. She put in so much time on her own. We'd leave open gym or lifting in the offseason and she's be going somewhere to hit more or get in more training." Sprague was a part of three consecutive 20-win teams at Amherst and helped leaded the Comets to the Division II regional final this season. "I'm proud of myself and my teammates," Sprague said. "This award reminds of all the hard work I've put into this. "I wanted to play every game like it was my last this year. That was my goal. I knew I was going on to play in college but there's nothing like high school sports and I was trying to finish on a good note." Sprague wrapped up her high school career with a .382 average and 105 hits, including 25 doubles. She was only one of two seniors on this year's Amherst roster. "As a freshman she came in and you could see she was going to be something special," Reichert said. "And obviously she held true to the first impression. Leah's goal was to play in college and in practice we showed her what she'd have to do and what college coaches would expect of her and she really took that to heart and never shied away from a challenge." Sprague is the fifth Amherst player to be named Miss Softball. "I knew when I came to high school I was going to be ready to compete but I never expected all of this," Sprague said. "Coach Reichert was able to get the most out of not just me but out of all of my teammates, too." Elyria Catholic's Lillian Ciryak was a special mention by the Miss Softball committee. Avon's Jordyn Aysh, Avon Lake's Erin Dean, Columbia's Lexi Miller and Keystone's Brooklyn Modock were all named honorable mentions. Miss Softball is selected annually by a committee of school administrators, athletic administrators and media members from across the county. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.