MANSFIELD — Spring sports in Richland County are off to a rip-roaring start.
Baseball, softball and track and field were all in action last week and it didn't take long for local athletes to make headlines. Let's take a look back through the week that was and find out some names that will be household by the end of the season.
Here is this week's Top Performances List.
Monday, March 31
-Clear Fork’s Chandler Ball came up with the clutch hit to give the Colts a 2-1 walk-off Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference baseball win over Galion. After Brooks Craw led off the seventh inning with a pinch-hit double, Ball delivered the game-winner two pitches later. Ball had the lone RBI in the victory.
-The Cantrell brothers, Dom and Kam, combined to lead the Ontario Warriors to a 6-3 win over Madison. Dom Cantrell earned the win on the mound allowing two runs on no hits with seven strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of work. Kam Cantrell picked up the save working the final 3 1/3 innings allowing one unearned run on no hits with one strikeout. Dom also added a hit on offense.
-Elise Mullins was an offensive catalyst for the Shelby Whippets in an 8-7 softball win over Norwalk. Mullins provided the fireworks with a solo home run early in the game to set the tone. Peyton Bruskotter had two hits and two RBIs as well.
Tuesday, April 1
-James Mahon and Jaren Holden teamed up to lead the Ontario Warriors to a 5-2 MOAC baseball win over River Valley. Mahon had two hits while Holden had one but it was their work on the mound that led to a big league win. Holden picked up the win allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts in three innings of relief. Mahon worked the first five innings allowing one run on one hit with five strikeouts.
-Lexington’s Tyler Galownia had a big day in a 7-5 Ohio Cardinal Conference baseball win over West Holmes. He has a hit and also earned the win on the mound pitching three innings of perfect relief allowing no runs on one hit with seven strikeouts.
-Crestview’s Gavin Barker was the player of the game in the Cougars’ 2-0 baseball win over Norwalk. He had two hits and an RBI and also earned the win on the mound with a complete-game shutout allowing three hits with six strikeouts.
-Clear Fork’s Mel Blubaugh crushed a solo home run in a 5-2 MOAC softball win over Galion. Macy Shafer picked up the win in the circle allowing two runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings of work.
-Lexington’s Makaree Chapman launched three home runs in a 9-2 OCC softball win over West Holmes. She finished the way with three hits and five RBIs and also earned the win in the circle allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits with 13 strikeouts in seven innings of work.
-Crestview’s Bria White paced a balanced offensive attack by the Cougars in a 9-6 win over Norwalk. White had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Cougars to a nonconference softball win.
-Bailee ...
