Clear Fork softball falls, Madison, Lexington baseball advance in postseason

SHELBY — When the Clear Fork Colts strolled into Shelby for their Division III district semifinal matchup with Margaretta, they knew they proved doubters wrong.

No one expected them to be there. Well, no one outside of their own dugout at least. Inside, the Colts always believed in a nice tournament run that would include a sectional championship and a chance to play for a district title. But, after an 11-1 loss to the Polar Bears, the Colts' dream season came to a close.

"To be honest, I just told the girls that at the beginning of the season, I didn't think we would be here today," Clear Fork coach Chris Clapper said. "But this team grew so much over the course of the season. Am I disappointed in the performance today, sure, but overall, this season is something to be proud of."

After starting the year 0-3, the Colts won their next five before losing three more as a roller coaster few weeks saw them sitting at 5-6 on April 12. They went on to win 12 of their next 15 games including a sectional championship win over Colonel Crawford.

But Wednesday night saw Margaretta put its foot on the gas and never let up.

"And we couldn't get our foot on the gas," Clapper said. "That is what happens. Margaretta played like we played over the last month and we played the complete opposite."

The Polar Bears scored three runs in each of the first two innings, one in the third and two more in the fourth to take a 9-0 lead into the fifth. Clear Fork finally got on the board when Mel Blubaugh ripped an RBI double to left to make it 9-1, but Margaretta added two in the bottom of the fifth to take the run-rule victory.

Clear Fork managed just five hits, two from Blubaugh and one apiece from Katrin Rogers, Ava Carr and Bri Patterson, and struck out six times as Mariah Fields kept the Colts off balance all night long.

"She moved the ball well and hit her spots," Clapper said. "We were more selective than we should have been when we were behind in the count. We watched a lot of third strikes."

The Colts also committed two errors defensively and walked five batters giving the Polar Bears seven free runners. only six of the 11 runs were earned.

Clear Fork (17-9) ends its season and said goodbye to four seniors, Pacey Chrastina, Morgan Shafer, Makayla Crawford and Lauryn Robinson.

"It is such a great group and we are going to miss them so much," Clapper said. "Each one of them is going to move on and do some amazing things in life. I am very proud of them."

Now, the Colts head into the offseason looking to take the next step toward getting back to the district tournament and this time, winning it.

"Pitching will be our No. 1 priority in the offseason," Clapper said. "Pacey came into the year only throwing 20 innings last year and threw more than 130 this year so she is leaving a huge hole to fill. And we do that by getting better each day and that is all I can expect from them. We bring back a majority of our starting lineup back and we are excited about that."

Division II Sectional Semifinal Baseball

Madison 13, Willard 3

The Madison Rams earned a very impressive sectional semifinal win over Willard on Wednesday night, 13-3.

Rian Lunsford and David Yockey had two hits apiece while Owen Morror, Gavin Cates, Shaun Cains Jr. and Liam Stone had one hit apiece. Stone had three RBIs while Cates and Lunsford had two apiece and Cameron Kuhn and Zach Glasgo had one apiece.

Ethan Glasgo picked up the win on the mound allowing three runs, just one earned, on five hits with two strikeouts in seven innings of work.

The Rams are now 9-15 on the season and travel to Shelby on Friday for a sectional championship.

Lexington 8, Vermilion 3

The Lexington Minutemen advance in the postseason with an 8-3 sectional semifinal win over Vermilion on Wednesday.

Landon Hamilton led the way with two hits while Zian Rhodes, Chance Basilone, Jaxon Brown, Braden Mumaw and Cooper Dreibelbis had one hit apiece. Hamilton and Rhodes had two RBIs apiece while Basilone and Mumaw had one RBI apiece in the win.

Colton Murfield earned the win on the mound allowing three runs on eight hist with 10 strikeouts.

Lexington improves to 9-17 and will travel to Clyde on Friday for a sectional championship.

Bellevue 8, Mansfield Senior 1

The Mansfield Senior Tygers saw their postseason come to an end in the sectional semifinals with an 8-1 loss to Bellevue on Wednesday night.

MJ Bradley and Dominique Horn had one hit apiece for the Tygers while Horn had the lone RBI.

The Tygers finish 5-18.

Division II District Tennis

Five are still alive.

For the second straight year, Lexington has qualified five of its players to the state tennis tournament. Clinching state berths during the first day of the Division II district tournament in Port Clinton were Karl Etzel in singles and the doubles teams of Ethan Remy-Dylan Catanese and Jake Chilcote-Owan Gongwer.

All of them won two rounds on Wednesday.

The doubles team of Joseph Litao and Pablo Sanchez Vidal was bidding to give Ontario its first state qualifiers in program history, but they lost a tough three-setter in their first match to Elida.

Also ousted in the first round of singles were Lexington's Cooper Remy, Ontario's Matt Bayes and Shelby's Jacob Williams.

The district tournament concludes Saturday with the semifinals and finals in singles and doubles.

Division I District Track

The Lexington Minutemen were in action on Wednesday during Day 1 of the Division I district track meet in Toldeo.

Junior Carter Newman qualified for Day 2 in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.44 giving him the fifth-best qualifying time of the group. He also advanced in the 200-meter dash with a qualifying time of 22.69 which was second best for the day.

Freshman Hughes Latrell took the second-fastest qualifying time in the 400 with a 50.68 while sophomore Will Perkins will join him for Day 2 as he qualified with a 51.54, fourth best for the day in the event. Junior Elijah Newland is moving on in the 800 with a time of 2:08.13 earning him the third-fastest qualifying time. Freshman Dantrell Hughes also advanced in the 110-meter hurdles taking the ninth and final qualifying spot with a 16.56. He is also moving on in the 300 hurdles with another ninth and final qualifying spot with a 43.56.

The 4x400 team qualified for Friday's finals taking second in the prelims with a time of 3:28.09. The 4x800 team qualified for the regional tournament after taking district runner-up honors with a time of 8:07.35.

Newman capped off his busy day by qualifying for the regional tournament in the long jump as his leap of 21-07.75 was good enough for third place at the district meet.

The district finals will take place on Friday back at St. Francis DeSales High School in Toldeo.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Clear Fork softball falls, Madison, Lexington baseball advance in postseason