MANSFIELD — The first meeting was for bragging rights. A second matchup between Madison and Ontario would be a lot more meaningful.
Both the top-seeded Rams and third-seeded Warriors advanced to this week’s Division II district softball tournament at Edison High School. Madison will play No. 4 Tiffin Columbian in the opener of a district semifinal doubleheader at 4 p.m. Tuesday, while Ontario will take on No. 2 Bellevue in the nightcap.
If both the Rams and Warriors were to win Tuesday, they would meet for a district title at 5 p.m. Thursday in Milan.
“Madison is a great team. There is a possibility we could see them again,” Ontario coach Chris Musille said after Madison’s 7-3 win at Ontario in early-April.
The Rams punched their ticket to the district tournament with a run rule-shortened 10-0 win over Shelby. Ontario roughed up Upper Sandusky 11-1.
“Ontario is the type of team nobody wants to see in the tournament,” Madison coach Tim Niswander said after the regular season meeting. “They are dangerous.”
Division III
No matter what happens at the Division III Lexington district tournament, north central Ohio will send a team to the Findlay regional.
Top-seeded Clear Fork will take on No. 4 Galion at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. No. 2 Crestview and No. 3 Colonel Crawford meet in Tuesday’s second game.
The Colts survived a scare in the sectional championship game, holding on for an 11-10 win over No. 8 Edison. Crestview, Colonel Crawford and Galion all posted shutouts in their sectional final victories.
Division IV
Lucas will get the chance to defend its district championship at Shelby. The second-seeded Cubs, who reached the Final Four for the first time in school history last spring, will open district play against third-seeded Seneca East at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Shelby.
In the Division IV Revere district, top-seeded Hillsdale will play No. 4 Columbia at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
