Mansfield wins Summit Conference Tournament title

The Mansfield Lions’ baseball team capped off 12-6 fall season last week by winning the Summit Conference Tournament championship with a big 11-1 win over rival Hartville.
The Lions scored four runs in the first and five in the third and used 11 hits to cruise past the Eagles on Mansfield’s home field.
Jaxon Clark had a big day with four RBIs while Fisher Croney added three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Aiden Garrison scored three times while both Cole Whorton and Easton Thompson had one RBI and one run scored.
On the mound, Croney tossed five innings and gave up no earned runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and three walks.
Maddox Jones scored the lone run for the Eagles’ offense.
Heston Lowery tossed two and two-thirds innings and gave up eight earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
“We finished the fall strong with the Summit Conference Tournament title,” said Mansfield head coach Joe Garrison. “
“Very proud of that. To begin the fall season, we sat down as a team and discussed the disappointment of losing the district title last spring to Richland and how we felt like we could’ve achieved more. We were hungry to prove ourselves better and we set our sights on winning the Summit Conference Tournament. We were very focused as a team to execute in key moments throughout the game and overcome hardships to help the team win. We were 4-1 in extra inning games which proved our toughness. We still have a lot to prove this spring and we are eager for the opportunity!”
In the semifinals, the Lions needed extra innings to get past Seymour, 5-4.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Brayden Stuart drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded to score Croney for the game-winning run.
Back in the seventh inning, Mansfield entered their final at-bat down 4-0 when they rallied to tie the game.
Garrison’s ground out scored Easton Thompson for the first run, but it was also the second out.
Croney, Parker Moody and Whorton then hit three straight singles to eventually tie the game at 4-4.
Croney led the offense in the win with one RBI and two runs scored.
Stuart tossed all nine innings on the mound and gave up no earned runs on five hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
In the first round, the Lions shutout rival Norwood, 10-0, as they scored two runs in each of the five innings.
Garrison had two RBIs and two runs scored while Croney, Whorton, Clark, Easton Thompson, Luke Thompson and Evan Roberts each had one RBI and one run scored. All nine players either scored a run or had an RBI in the win.
Garrison tossed five innings and gave up no earned runs on one hit with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Norwood pitcher Laken Coatney tossed two and two-thirds innings and gave up three earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Norwood ended their fall season with a 3-9 record.