ONTARIO — The Warriors rediscovered their mojo at just the right time.
Fourth-seeded Ontario authored the biggest upset of the sectional tournament last week, knocking off No. 1 Lexington 5-4 in the sectional final at Shelby. The Warriors were one of 10 area teams to win sectional championships.
Ontario will face No. 5 Madison in the district semifinals at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Willard. The Rams advanced with a run-rule-shortened 20-0 win over crosstown rival Mansfield Senior.
Ontario (14-10) got off to a fast start, opening the season with five straight wins. The Warriors were 7-3 going into the Wendy’s Spring Classic before hitting a rough stretch that lasted most of April. Ontario found its footing in the sectional last week, opening with a run-rule-shortened 20-3 win over Galion before stunning Lady Lex.
“We have a lot of young girls,” Ontario coach Sean Snow said earlier in the season. “They are talented, but they don’t have a lot of (varsity) experience.”
Joselyn Frazier, Halle Ciroli and Izzy Graaf each had two hits against Lexington, while Natalie Link drove in a pair. Corinne Fanello pitched five innings, striking out six. Frazier pitched a pair of scoreless innings in relief.
The Rams didn’t have any trouble dispatching Mansfield Senior, scoring 13 runs in the first inning. Bri Bowles had four hits and knocked in seven runs.
In Tuesday’s late game at Willard, No. 3 Clear Fork takes on No. 2 Bellevue. The Colts advanced with a 13-3 win over Tiffin Columbian, while Belleuve beat Shelby 10-4.
In Division I, Ashland earned a spot in the district semifinals with an 11-1 win over Toledo Notre Dame Academy in last week’s sectional final. The fifth-seeded Arrows play No. 3 Toledo Whitmer at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fostoria.
In Division III, No. 4 seed Crestview and No. 3 Colonel Crawford will both be in action Wednesday at the New Riegel district. The Cougars will take on top-seeded Huron at 4 p.m. and No. 3 Colonel Crawford meets No. 2 Edison in the nightcap.
Crestview advanced with a 5-0 win over Margaretta in the sectional final. The Eagles knocked off No. 6 Upper Sandusky 6-3.
In Division IV, Hillsdale and Loudonville will be in action Monday at Akron’s Firestone Stadium. The second-seeded Falcons take on No. 3 Mogadore at 4:30 p.m., while the fourth-seeded Redbirds meet No. 1 Cuyahoga Heights at 6:15 p.m.
Hillsdale advanced with an 11-1 win over Dalton in six innings. Loudonville beat Columbia Station 8-1.
Also in Division IV, Plymouth and Lucas will be in action at the Shelby district tournament. The third-seeded Big Red take on No. 1 Monroeville at 4 p.m. Tuesday. No. 5 Lucas meets No. 2 Mohawk in Tuesday’s nightcap.
Plymouth advanced with a 4-0 win over Crestline in the sectional finals. Lucas knocked off No. 4 Norwalk St. Paul 11-10.
