Photo Provided Bridgeport High softball coach Hannah Boyer, right, earned recognition from the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference when she was named the conference’s co-Coach of the Year. She is pictured with one of her players, senior Vanessa Mullen, who played in the recent 2025 OVAC All-Star softball game.

BRIDGEPORT — Hannah Boyer’s first year coaching Bridgeport High’s softball team led the players to new heights, and she earned recognition as the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference’s co-Coach of the Year. Coaches from 58 school districts throughout the OVAC cast their votes and Boyer came out on top over the four other finalists.

“It’s based on how your season went. How you’ve grown or how well you did throughout the year or how the program’s changed,” she said.

Boyer, who teaches government, world history and financial literacy, had served as an assistant coach for two years before taking on the head coaching job. She got her coaching career off to a strong start.

“When I first found out I was in the top five, I was really shocked, I didn’t expect that at all,” Boyer said.

The Bulldogs softball team was a force to be reckoned with this school year. The team finished out the season 15-8, then reached the OVAC semifinals and championship.

“Making OVAC was definitely our high point, our high moment because the girls have never experienced that,” Boyer said.

“We faced a lot of the same teams that we’d lost to the past two years– River, Toronto, Shadyside– teams like that that we had never beaten before. Beating key teams we’ve lost to in the past is really the main reason why we reached where we did.”

She credits the players for buying into the vision of what they could accomplish and giving their all.

“This is a great group of girls we had this year. They were fantastic,” Boyer said.

Boyer reflected on her players’ successes this year.

“They had goals set for themselves. They wanted to win more games than they did the year before. They wanted to reach the OVAC, which we did. We accomplished both those things. We had a great season.”

She said reaching the championship was a triumph.

“That was the icing on the cake for the girls. That’s what they wanted. They wanted to get to that point, and they worked hard to get there, and that put in position to get a good home sectional game at the end of the season.”

One of Boyer’s seniors, Vanessa Mullen, also played in the All-Star game for Team Ohio June 2 at the J.B. Chambers Sports Complex in Wheeling. Boyer was a coach during the game.

“It was a wonderful experience,” Boyer said. “We got to be around a lot of other great talent. We got to experience that with different kids and coaches from all over the OVAC. It was a lot of fun. I found out that I won at that game.”

From her first day as coach, Boyer’s message was simple: there are no shortcuts to success. Her team earned every win.

“I knew we had potential,” she said. “I knew we had talent. I knew there was a lot that we could accomplish. Honestly the whole goal of the season was hard work, and that’s what they did. They put more work in that I’ve ever seen before, and they wanted it, so that is what I think drove everything this year.”

The players were encouraged and soon took on momentum.

“As soon as they were winning games, it was like a domino effect,” Boyer said. “We just kept pushing and kept rolling, and that’s what it took. It was purely hard work, and I wanted the girls to put in that work because that’s also a life lesson. I wanted them to learn that good things come to you when you put work in.”

Boyer also thanked her coaching staff.

“We wouldn’t have gotten where we did without them. They’ve been great,” she said, adding she also had the support of the school and community.

Boyer is already looking to the future. She has ambitions for more success in the coming seasons. She will embrace challenges and opportunities that come with being a head coach. She will also continue to teach her new and returning players to keep their focus on improvement while correcting any mistakes.

“Our seniors were great leaders,” Boyer said. “Our seniors played a huge role in all the success we’ve had this year, so we have a lot of big shoes to fill. Our junior high program has been fantastic. They have been coached great. They’ve been putting in hard work and I’m excited to see what the junior high brings,” she said.

“They know what it takes, and I hope that carries over into next season.”

Bridgeport High Principal Jack Fisher had high praise for Boyer.

“I couldn’t be happier for her, and it’s an awesome honor,” Fisher said. “She’s a great coach, educator, and person all around. I can’t wait to see all that she’ll continue to do for Bridgeport and our students and athletes in her career.”