FREMONT — Ontario was its own worst enemy Thursday afternoon.
The second-seeded Warriors committed five errors and saw a six-run lead vanish in an 8-6, nine-inning loss to No. 3 Sandusky Perkins in the Division II district semifinals at Fremont Ross High School.
The Warriors (15-11) took a 3-0 lead in the home half of the second. Jake Chapman singled to right with one out and moved to second when Jon Mahon was hit by a pitch. Bryson Stoots drew a walk to load the bases before Jaren Holden laced a three-run triple to center.
Ontario added three more in the third. Peyton Dzugan reached on an error to start the inning, took second on Carter Walters’ bunt base hit and scored on Carter Weaver’s single to left to make it 4-0. Walters scored when Jon Mahon’s bunt was misplayed for an error and Weaver scored on Stoots’ sacrifice fly.
Perkins (14-13) tied in with six runs in the top of the fourth. Andrew Halbisen stroked a two-run single for the Pirates. Braylon Collier knocked in a pair with an infield single to tie it at 6-6.
It would stay that way until the ninth.
John Zwiesler reached on an error to start the inning and moved to second on Kash Koch’s single to right. Benny Weyer plated Zwiesler with a two-out single to right before Koch scored on Collier’s infield single to make it 8-6.
Ontario got its leadoff man on in the bottom of the ninth, but Perkins’ reliever Talon Walton retired the next three batters he faced to preserve the win.
The Warriors managed just five hits. Walter led Ontario with two singles, while Weaver was 1-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run. Chapman was 1-for-4 with a run while Holden knocked in three with his triple. Stoots scored a run and drove in a run.
Nolan Thomas led Perkins with three hits, including a double, scored a run and drove in a run. Collier had two hits and drove in three.
Zwiesler went the first 7.2 innings for Perkins, giving up five hits and six runs. He struck out four and walked three. Walton worked the final 1.1 inning, walking one and striking out one.
Walters started and went 3.2 innings. He surrendered seven hits and six runs, but only two were earned. James Mahon worked the final 5.1 innings. Neither of the runs he gave up in the ninth were earned.
Perkins will play fifth-seeded Huron for a district title at 1 p.m. Saturday at Fremont Ross. Huron upset top-seeded Tiffin Columbian 9-6 in Thursday’s early game.