Schimmoeller commits to play softball at Hiram

Press Sports Editor
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Is Hannah Schimmoeller better at softball or golf?
That remains to be seen, but what we do know is that she has decided to continue her softball career at the next level, committing to play at Hiram College in northeast Ohio.
The Oak Harbor senior has accomplished some great things in both sports, having advanced to districts in golf this season while winning two regional championships in softball.
Schimmoeller, who missed last season because of an arm injury, was instrumental in the Rockets winning a Division II regional title and advancing to the Final Four for the first time in the program’s history as a freshman. She hit cleanup and played second base while hitting .450 to go with two home runs, three doubles, two triples, 26 RBIs and 26 runs. As a sophomore, she was even better, hitting .396 with five homers, 12 doubles, 32 RBIs and 38 runs. She had a first-inning RBI to spark Oak Harbor in its 5-4 win over Lexington in the regional finals, and had four hits, including a home run and a double, in the 10-3 victory over Wauseon in the district finals, helping the Rockets avenge a loss to the Indians from the year before.
“I’ve had a pretty good experience playing softball. Everyone’s been inclusive, and we’re like a family,” said Schimmoeller, who carries a 3.91 GPA. “I think we mesh well together – we played travel ball together, and we’ve always been with each other and playing against one another. “I enjoy challenging myself and I just fell in love with the sport and want (to keep) going. I’ve had a pretty good experience; everyone’s been inclusive, and we’re like a family there. I’ve been playing softball since I was 7 or 8.”
Schimmoeller talked about why she chose Hiram, a small, liberal-arts college located 37 miles northeast of Akron that is home to roughly 1,110 students. The Division III school, whose mascot is the Terrier, competes in the North Coast Athletic Conference. Shannon Schaub is going to be entering her second year as the coach, which follows a five-year stint at Wittenberg.
Despite being a second baseman in high school, Schimmoeller is going to be an outfielder at the collegiate level. “I like Hiram – the campus, the softball program,” she said. “It has my major, which is middle childhood education, and I just love the coach.”
Schimmoeller’s father, Rob, is a math teacher at the high school and has been an assistant softball coach after being the baseball coach for many years.
Most recently, Schimmoeller finished her career in golf with a 102 (54-48) at the Division II district tournament at Sycamore Springs Golf Course in Findlay, good enough for 41st (out of 90) golfers.
She got there after finishing 13th by shooting a 95 (45-50) at Ironwood Golf Course in Wauseon in the sectional tournament. Not bad for someone who has only played two seasons and didn’t get to finish her junior year because of her injury.
As a team, the Rockets were fifth, shooting a 411. Oak Harbor, which had four seniors compete at the match, saw Sophia Zunk shoot a 98, followed by Chloe Kelley (103), Elle Gardiner (115) and Makenna Roberts (126).
Schimmoeller earned first-team honors in the Northern Buckeye Conference and was an all-county selection, too. She finished seventh at the NBC Tournament.
“My season started off pretty well,” she said. “I had some up-and-down moments, (but) at the league championship match, I did really well, and it bumped me up to first-team in the NBC.”
Her first two years saw her play volleyball before switching to golf.
“I wasn’t enjoying volleyball as much; it just wasn't for me,” Schimmoeller said. My dad had been the golf coach for the boys team for about 10 years, so I decided to (make) the switch.
“I picked up golf clubs the summer before my junior year. I think softball helped with my swing, and (we) critiqued my swing until it was good,” she said.
Schimmoeller credited Oak Harbor coach Rob Hawn for his guidance this season.
“He’s been great,” she said. “He has a very positive mindset and attitude, and that helped me through a lot of bad holes and rounds.”