GREENVILLE — The stage is set for one of the biggest softball showdowns in recent Miami Valley League history as the Greenville Lady Wave and Troy Lady Trojans meet in a two-game series with the 2026 MVL championship hanging in the balance.
The highly anticipated clash begins Friday at Lady Wave Stadium with a 5 p.m. first pitch, then shifts to Troy for the decisive second game Monday, also scheduled for a 5 p.m. start.
Both programs enter the series at the top of their game, each carrying unbeaten conference records and dominant overall resumes, setting up a true winner-take-all scenario for league supremacy.
Greenville will look to defend its home-field advantage behind a powerful combination of elite pitching and explosive offense, while Troy brings an unblemished record and a balanced attack that has overwhelmed opponents all season.
With two of the MVL’s premier programs going head-to-head, the series promises high-level competition, postseason intensity, and a playoff-like atmosphere as conference bragging rights—and a championship—are decided on the field.
“Showdown here on Friday and showdown there Monday,” said Greenville Hall of Fame Coach Jerrod Newland. “Be fun stuff.”
Troy enters Friday night’s contest at Lady Wave Stadium with a perfect 20-0 overall record, while Greenville comes in at 20-1. Both teams are undefeated in league play at 14-0, setting up a winner-take-all feel across Friday’s matchup and Monday’s rematch at Troy.
“April is about over; we don’t get to play again until May,” Newland added. “We are 20-1 rolling into May, and May 1st is Friday. I can’t wait to host the Troy Trojans here for an MVL matchup.”
The circle figures to be the difference-maker, with Greenville holding a statistical edge.
Ella Oswalt has been dominant for the Lady Wave, leading the MVL with a 0.66 ERA and 14 wins. In 74.0 innings pitched, the sophomore has allowed just 31 hits, six walks, and seven earned runs while striking out 139 batters. She is averaging 1.88 strikeouts per inning and owns a WHIP under 0.50.
Lizzie Shaffer gives Greenville a formidable one-two punch. The junior carries a 0.98 ERA with six wins, striking out 68 batters over 50.0 innings. She has allowed 27 hits, 12 walks, and seven earned runs, averaging 1.36 strikeouts per inning.
Troy counters with a deep pitching staff led by freshman Rees Campbell (1.02 ERA, 7 wins), who has allowed just 23 hits and six earned runs over 41.0 innings with 46 strikeouts. Senior Julia Rose (1.31 ERA, 9 wins) has worked 53.1 innings, allowing 48 hits and 10 earned runs while striking out 63. Makayla Kennedy (2.13 ERA, 4 wins) adds depth with 31 strikeouts.
As a staff, Greenville holds a 0.790 team ERA compared to Troy’s 1.351. Greenville pitchers have allowed fewer hits per inning and carry a higher strikeout rate overall.
Troy brings the league’s most potent offense statistically, hitting .479 as a team with 219 RBIs and 252 runs scored through 20 games. The Lady Trojans have collected 58 doubles, 14 triples, and 20 home runs.
Mimi Shaw leads the MVL with a .725 batting average, tallying 50 hits, 12 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 23 RBIs, and 51 runs scored. Amayah Kennedy follows at .672 with 41 hits, 12 doubles, three triples, one home run, 26 RBIs, and 29 runs.
Makayla Kennedy (.517) adds 30 hits, nine doubles, three triples, two home runs and 35 RBIs, while Madison Wright (.542) contributes 32 hits, four doubles, one home run and 26 RBIs.
Greenville counters with a .441 team batting average, 242 RBIs, and 242 runs scored over 21 games, along with 64 doubles, one triple, and 22 home runs.
Ella Oswalt is not only dominant in the circle but also one of the league’s top hitters, batting .609 with 39 hits, 10 doubles, eight home runs, and 43 RBIs. Her eight home runs lead the MVL.
Lizzie Shaffer leads the conference in RBIs with 45, batting .531 with 38 hits, nine doubles, and six home runs. Leah Force adds consistency at the top of the lineup, hitting .543 with 38 hits, 11 doubles, one home run, 21 RBIs, and a team-high 46 runs scored.
Greenville has shown an edge in power efficiency, producing 22 home runs compared to Troy’s 20 despite fewer total hits. The Lady Wave’s middle of the lineup accounts for a large share of run production, with Oswalt and Shaffer combining for 14 home runs and 88 RBIs.
Troy, however, spreads production throughout the lineup, placing four hitters in the MVL’s top 10 and generating consistent extra-base hits with 72 combined doubles and triples.
Defensively, Greenville holds a slight advantage with a .976 fielding percentage, committing just 11 errors in 21 games. Troy has a .954 fielding percentage with 22 errors in 20 games.
The Lady Wave also show stronger run prevention overall, allowing fewer runs per game behind their pitching and defense combination.
Greenville has faced a more challenging non-conference slate, earning wins over Oak Hills (8-7), Covington (11-2), and Lebanon (8-0), teams known for strong pitching and competitive programs.
Troy’s biggest tests came in a doubleheader sweep of Miami East, winning 15-13 in extra innings and 5-4, showing resilience in close, high-scoring games.
Both teams have dominated MVL competition, setting the stage for one of the league’s most compelling title races in years. With elite pitching, high-powered offenses, and unbeaten conference records, the margin for error will be slim.
Greenville’s edge in pitching depth, power hitting, and defensive efficiency gives the Lady Wave a slight advantage heading into the two-game series, but Troy’s explosive offense and unbeaten record ensure the Lady Trojans will present a formidable challenge in the battle for the 2026 MVL crown.
