Rivals to meet for district championship

Van Wert independent sports

ELIDA — Northwest Conference rivals Lincolnview and Crestview will meet in the Division IV district finals, with a regional softball berth on the line.

The two teams won their district semifinal games at Dorothy Edwards field in Elida on Tuesday, with Lincolnview stunning No. 1 seed and perennial power Parkway 4-3, and Crestview defeating No. 2 seed Wayne Trace 3-1.

The Lady Lancers and Lady Knights will square off at 5 p.m. Thursday in Elida, with the winner advancing to next week’s Findlay regional.

Lincolnview 4 Parkway 3

Lakin Brant snapped a 3-3 tie with a sixth inning RBI single that scored Annie Mendenhall and gave the No. 4 seed Lady Lancers the win.

Brant had three hits, including a solo home run to start the game. Lincolnview (15-4) added a run in the second inning when Tori Boyd scored on an error.

Parkway scored three runs in the fourth, but Lincolnview tied the game in the fifth on a bases loaded walk that plated Mendenhall.

Amy Beair held Parkway to just three hits, while striking out four and walking two.

Crestview 3 Wayne Trace 1

A three run sixth inning proved to be the difference, as No. 3 seed Crestview rallied past Wayne Trace.

Breena Grace opened the sixth with a single, then after an out, Kali Small doubled in Emily Gruelach, who was in as a courtesy runner. Two batters later, Codi Miller two RBI single scored Mandy Macki and Lexi Gregory.

Small had two hits and an RBI and she was the winning pitcher, holding Wayne Trace to five hits, as Crestview improved to 20-4.

Emily Dyson led the Lady Raiders with two hits.