Ontario outlasts Lexington in epic Division III district semifinal game


1 / 146

GALLERY: News Journal’s best high school sports photos for May 11-16

Lexington’s Cooper Clark makes a play at third base during the Minutemen’s 12-2 nonconference win over Norwalk on May 11, 2026.

(Provided by Tom Theodore)

WILLARD — When Lexington and Ontario square off on the softball diamond, the last one standing is going to have some bumps and bruises.

May 21’s Division III district semifinal game was proof of that as the Warriors came away with a hard fought 11-9 win over Lady Lex to advance into the district championship game at noon on May 23 at Oregon Clay against Maumee.

Advertisement

ALL-DISTRICT 9: Lexington’s Davis, Galion’s Fagan highlight All-District 9 baseball honors

After Lexington started the game with three runs in the top of the first, Ontario responded with five runs of their own. Lexington came right back with three in the second before Ontario tacked on one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings as the two teams traded haymakers early and often.

“No one will lay down in this rivalry,” Ontario coach Jamie Burke said. “We knew in the sixth inning that two wouldn’t be enough to bring this thing home and it wasn’t. We had a great inning that gave us a comfortable enough lead to win this thing.”

Leading 7-6 heading into the bottom of the fourth the Warriors needed some insurance runs and got them in a big way. Ellie Dawson slugged a solo home run, her 13th homer of the season tying the program’s single-season record in the process. Then, Brinlee Kreger added an RBI single before Sophie Schuster launched a towering two-run home run to left to give the Warriors four huge insurance runs.

Advertisement

“We had our opportunities,” Lexington coach Joe Thornton said. “A couple of errors, some mistakes, in the end, that was the difference.

“We had a little trouble hitting our spots and the strike zone was a little tight. But that is a great hitting team that set their program’s home run record, so we expected them to come in and put up some runs. We tried to keep the ball down, but they waited and hit their pitches.”

Lexington wasn’t about to let things go that easily. Lady Lex scored three runs in the top of the seventh and had the go-ahead run at the plate before Schuster buckled down with a huge strikeout to end the threat and the game.

Ontario's Brinlee Kreger trots around the bases after hitting a home run during Lady Lex's 11-9 Division III district semifinal loss to Ontario on Thursday, May 21, 2026 in Willard.

Ontario’s Brinlee Kreger trots around the bases after hitting a home run during Lady Lex’s 11-9 Division III district semifinal loss to Ontario on Thursday, May 21, 2026 in Willard.

“They never gave up,” Thornton said. “I have to give them credit. We were down five going into the seventh and put up three runs and had the go-ahead run a the plate. It speaks a lot about how proud I am of these girls.”

Advertisement

The Warriors collected 16 hits for the game. Kreger and Brylie Ireland had four hits apiece while Lillian Gray and Kylie Corwin had two apiece and Saylor Smith, Dawson, Morgan Pearson and Schuster had one apiece. Schuster collected three RBIs while Gray, Kreger and Ireland had two apiece and Dawson and Corwin had one. Kreger, Dawson and Schuster had one home run apiece.

“We practiced the entire week attacking the low, outside pitches because that is where she makes her living,” Kreger said. “I came in with that mindset and expectation while also looking to turn on an inside pitch. I just tried to execute and it felt good.”

Kreger’s bunt single in the first inning was a surprise for anyone who knows about the hard-hitting right hander. It’s something she believed she has never done before.

“Probably ever,” Kreger said laughing. “I just saw we had second and third and less that two outs and all I wanted to do was force a throw to first so we could get the runner in from third. They didn’t throw it, so I will take a bunt single.”

Advertisement

Alexis Cantrell led Lexington with four hits while Kyra Boyd had two and Kylie Thornton, Mariana Molton, Camryn McGuire, Mady Taylor and Ashton Williams had one apiece. Cantrell collected four RBIs while Quinn Patrick, Addy Williams, Molton and McGuire had one apiece. Cantrell slugged a home run in the loss.

Seniors Kylie Thornton, Boyd, Taylor, Lauren Risser and Camryn and Rylie McGuire all played their final game in a Lexington uniform. Lexington finished the season 13-11.

“It’s been a ride,” Thornton said. “We have been through a lot the last four years with a lot of amazing tournament runs. It is a special group of kids, man.”

Ontario (21-6) moves on to the district championship game, something Kreger has wanted ever since she experienced a magical run her freshman year. After a 7-3 sectional championship win over Sandusky on May 14, Kreger held her team back after the postgame meeting to express how badly she wants to make another tournament run before her career is over. She backed it up on Thursday night.

Ontario's Ellie Dawson makes the catch in centerfield during Lady Lex's 11-9 Division III district semifinal loss to Ontario on Thursday, May 21, 2026 in Willard.

Ontario’s Ellie Dawson makes the catch in centerfield during Lady Lex’s 11-9 Division III district semifinal loss to Ontario on Thursday, May 21, 2026 in Willard.

“My freshman year, I had some great leaders in Taylor Mullins, Joslynne Frazier, Kylie Snow and Alex Switaj,” Kreger said. “I remember just wanting to do everything I could to make sure their season didn’t end and I want that this year. I want to be that kind of leader for my teammates and keep this season going as long as I can.”

Advertisement

Burke loves seeing that out of her senior.

“Two weeks into the season, I felt like this was a special group regardless of how the season went,” Burke said. “We have 11 high school girls who genuinely care about one another. We have girls laying down sacrifice bunts when they could hit us a home run and it doesn’t affect them. We have seniors who want to win, do it the right way and care about their teammates. I don’t want to go home. I want to spend more time coaching these kids.”

The win was even more special as it gave Burke her 100th career victory between her time at Wynford and Ontario. She is now 50-28 with the Warriors.

“It is very neat,” Burke said. “I spent my first eight years building Wynford and you think that 10 years and 100 wins isn’t huge, but to take that program from what it was and win 50 games and then come here and get 50 more makes me hold my head high. I am so thankful for great, quality kids at both places.”

jfurr@usatodayco.com

740-244-9934

X: @JakeFurr11

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ontario outlasts Lexington in epic Division III district semifinal game



Source link

  • Related Posts

    New York Knicks produce 18-point surge in win over Cleveland Cavaliers

    The New York Knicks scored 18 unanswered points on the way to a 109-93 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers as they took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference…

    $49.9M estate of ex-Commanders owner Dan Snyder hits market

    John KeimMay 21, 2026, 07:38 PM ET Close John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    No, GTA 6 Is Not Delayed Again And Still Set To Launch This November

    No, GTA 6 Is Not Delayed Again And Still Set To Launch This November

    Minister Ng and Minister MacAulay statement on Canada’s CPTPP dairy tariff rate quota dispute with New Zealand

    BC flooding lawsuits: District of North Van sued

    BC flooding lawsuits: District of North Van sued

    Rubio doubtful of diplomacy with Cuba as Trump renews threat of military action | US news

    Rubio doubtful of diplomacy with Cuba as Trump renews threat of military action | US news

    New York Knicks produce 18-point surge in win over Cleveland Cavaliers

    New York Knicks produce 18-point surge in win over Cleveland Cavaliers

    2 Minnesota Autism Therapy Providers Charged in $46 Million Medicaid Fraud Case

    2 Minnesota Autism Therapy Providers Charged in $46 Million Medicaid Fraud Case