LEXINGTON, Ohio — It may not be uncharted territory, but Galion could probably benefit from a map and compass.
The Tigers haven’t been this deep into the postseason in a very long time.
Madelyn Thomas twirled a complete-game one-hitter and Galion erupted for eight runs in the home half of the fifth inning for a run rule-shortened 10-0 win over Willard in the Division III district semifinals.
The third-seeded Tigers (17-10) will play Crawford County heavyweight Colonel Crawford for a district title at 5 p.m. Friday at Lexington. The top-seeded Eagles advanced with a 5-2 win over Edison on Tuesday.
Galion coach Doug Hunt wasn’t quite sure when the last time the Tigers played for a berth in the regional tournament.
“The records aren’t real clear. I know it’s probably been a while,” Hunt said. “We’re excited to be here, believe me.”
Quick Work: The Tigers needed just 53 minutes to dispatch the Crimson Flashes (8-14). Galion scored a single runs in the third and fourth innings before blowing it open — and bringing the game to a premature end — in the fifth.
“It was 2-0 going to the fifth,” Willard coach Fred Mock said. “It was a good game for five innings and then they just exploded. It happens in softball.”
Galion leadoff hitter Gabby Kaple bunted for a base hit and scored in the third, singled and scored in the fifth and drove in the game-ending run with a two-out double later in the inning. Kaple, who threw out the potential game-tying run at second base in Galion’s 6-5 sectional final win over Margaretta, was 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
Nevaeh Clark had a pair of doubles and knocked in three runs, while Emily Sedmak drove in a pair. Nicole Thomas singled, doubled and had two RBIs.
“Everybody contributed,” Hunt said. “We’ve been solid top to bottom. We’ve been fortunate to have solid hitting all the way through the lineup.”
Thomas was in control from the outset. The right-hander struck out three and didn’t walk a batter. She surrendered just one base hit, a leadoff single by Emily Nedolast to start the fourth.”
We had solid pitching and played solid defense,” Hunt said.
Crawford County Showdown: Colonel Crawford beat Galion 5-2 in last year’s sectional championship game.
“We’re looking forward to Crawford. They’re a good team and we feel like we can hang with them,” Hunt said. “We’ve been waiting all year for that game.
“We came out last year and couldn’t get it done, but we’re back and ready to go.”
